Fig. 6

Infection with H. pylori and Serpin E1 overexpression in fibroblasts promote the migration, tube formation, and VEGFA expression of HUVECs. A Chemotactic migration of HUVECs was assessed by Matrigel-coated Transwell assay, wherein HUVECs were seeded in the upper chamber while fibroblasts with and without H. pylori infection or their conditioned medium were added into the lower chamber. Scale bar = 200 μm. B Tube formation of HUVECs on Matrigel was assessed by a Transwell co-cultured model, where CAFs overexpressing Serpin E1 were added in the upper chamber and HUVECs were seeded in the Matrigel-covered lower chamber. Scale bar = 100 μm. C Western blotting analysis of VEGFA in HUVECs co-cultured with Hs738 cells overexpressing Serpin E1, directly and using a Transwell system. D Immunofluorescence staining of VEGFA in HUVECs co-cultured with Serpin E1-overexpressed Hs738 cells using a Transwell insert. Scale bars: 25 μm and 10 μm (bottom row). E VEGFA levels were determined in the culture supernatants of HUVECs directly and Transwell co-cultured with Serpin E1-overexpressed Hs738 cells by ELISA. Bar graphs show the mean ± SD (n = 3); *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, and ****p < 0.001