Ed Matrigel (BD Biosciences). HUVECs (56104 cells) were resuspended in 200 ml EGM-

Ed Matrigel (BD Biosciences). HUVECs (56104 cells) were resuspended in 200 ml EGM-2 medium with or without 5ML (1 mM and 10 mM) and placed on the polymerized matrix, followed by the analysis of tube formation after 6 h. Tubes were visualized by an inverted transmissionmicroscope (Zeiss Axiovert 200 M) and documented by a digital imaging system (Axiovision Software, Zeiss). Statistical analysis was performed after calculating capillaries/mm2.Spheroid sprouting assayThe assay was performed as described elsewhere [17], with following modifications: HUVEC spheroids where generated overnight in hanging-drop culture consisting of 400 cells inEdelweiss for the Heartregulated were found to be regulated in all experiments. Genes with an expression value A below 5 were excluded from further analysis. Genes were considered to be regulated when the log2 ratio of the expression values (M) was identical to or below -1 (twofold down-regulation) or when M was identical to or above 1 (twofold up-regulation).performed at day 1 prior to surgery (baseline) and days 1, 14, and 28 after MI. Tetracosactide Myocardial SMER-28 function was assessed in anaesthetized animals (anesthesia as above).Animal sacrification and preparation for morphological studiesRats were euthanatized, hearts were first arrested in diastole using a 1 M cardioplegic potassiumchloride (KCL) solution and then harvested, fibrous tissue was removed and after rinsing the intracardiac blood, hearts were divided into two equally thick parts representing the base and the apex of the heart.Knock down of CYP1A1 and CYP26BSiRNA-mediated knock down of CYP1A1 and CYP26B1 was performed using customised siRNAs (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Santa Cruz, CA, USA) and the Amaxa Nucleofector (Lonza Group, Basel, Switzerland) as described by the manufacturers (also see [22]). For the knock down of CYP1A1 and CYP26B1 HUVECs were transfected with CYP1A1 siRNA, CYP26B1 siRNA, or control oligos according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Knock downs were verified by Western blotting: primary antibodies anti-CYP1A1 (Biomol, Germany); antiCYP26B1 antibody (Abcam, UK). For protein loading control membranes were stained with Ponceau-S. Quantification of bands was carried out using Quantity One 4.6.1 1-D Analysis software (Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA, USA)). Transfected cells were consequently subjected to the treatments and analyses indicated.Immunohistological and histological analysesFollowing fixation in 4 paraformaldehyde and dehydration of heart tissues, tissues were embedded in paraffin and cross sections were prepared. After deparaffinization, histochemical stainings were performed using the Masson Trichrome staining kit (Merck, Germany) as described by the manufacturer. Image acquisition was conducted with Aperio Scan Scope CS and for image-analysis Photoshop CS4 software was used. Evaluation of MI area was conducted by quantification of the fibrotic area (stained in blue, viable heart muscle is stained in red) and calculated as the percentage of the whole myocardial area. The peri-infarction area was defined as boarder zone extending the infarction area between 0.8 and 1.2 mm (area depending on size of infarction). The viable heart muscle tissue (clearly visible as red staining after Massons Trichrome staining) was also analyzed with Photoshop CS4 and calculated as area within the whole fibrotic infarction area. Additional, a histochemical staining was performed using haematoxylin/eosin (HE) according to the manufacturers instruction.Ed Matrigel (BD Biosciences). HUVECs (56104 cells) were resuspended in 200 ml EGM-2 medium with or without 5ML (1 mM and 10 mM) and placed on the polymerized matrix, followed by the analysis of tube formation after 6 h. Tubes were visualized by an inverted transmissionmicroscope (Zeiss Axiovert 200 M) and documented by a digital imaging system (Axiovision Software, Zeiss). Statistical analysis was performed after calculating capillaries/mm2.Spheroid sprouting assayThe assay was performed as described elsewhere [17], with following modifications: HUVEC spheroids where generated overnight in hanging-drop culture consisting of 400 cells inEdelweiss for the Heartregulated were found to be regulated in all experiments. Genes with an expression value A below 5 were excluded from further analysis. Genes were considered to be regulated when the log2 ratio of the expression values (M) was identical to or below -1 (twofold down-regulation) or when M was identical to or above 1 (twofold up-regulation).performed at day 1 prior to surgery (baseline) and days 1, 14, and 28 after MI. Myocardial function was assessed in anaesthetized animals (anesthesia as above).Animal sacrification and preparation for morphological studiesRats were euthanatized, hearts were first arrested in diastole using a 1 M cardioplegic potassiumchloride (KCL) solution and then harvested, fibrous tissue was removed and after rinsing the intracardiac blood, hearts were divided into two equally thick parts representing the base and the apex of the heart.Knock down of CYP1A1 and CYP26BSiRNA-mediated knock down of CYP1A1 and CYP26B1 was performed using customised siRNAs (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Santa Cruz, CA, USA) and the Amaxa Nucleofector (Lonza Group, Basel, Switzerland) as described by the manufacturers (also see [22]). For the knock down of CYP1A1 and CYP26B1 HUVECs were transfected with CYP1A1 siRNA, CYP26B1 siRNA, or control oligos according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Knock downs were verified by Western blotting: primary antibodies anti-CYP1A1 (Biomol, Germany); antiCYP26B1 antibody (Abcam, UK). For protein loading control membranes were stained with Ponceau-S. Quantification of bands was carried out using Quantity One 4.6.1 1-D Analysis software (Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA, USA)). Transfected cells were consequently subjected to the treatments and analyses indicated.Immunohistological and histological analysesFollowing fixation in 4 paraformaldehyde and dehydration of heart tissues, tissues were embedded in paraffin and cross sections were prepared. After deparaffinization, histochemical stainings were performed using the Masson Trichrome staining kit (Merck, Germany) as described by the manufacturer. Image acquisition was conducted with Aperio Scan Scope CS and for image-analysis Photoshop CS4 software was used. Evaluation of MI area was conducted by quantification of the fibrotic area (stained in blue, viable heart muscle is stained in red) and calculated as the percentage of the whole myocardial area. The peri-infarction area was defined as boarder zone extending the infarction area between 0.8 and 1.2 mm (area depending on size of infarction). The viable heart muscle tissue (clearly visible as red staining after Massons Trichrome staining) was also analyzed with Photoshop CS4 and calculated as area within the whole fibrotic infarction area. Additional, a histochemical staining was performed using haematoxylin/eosin (HE) according to the manufacturers instruction.