Effects of Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) on co-cultures of Outgrowth Endothelial Cells and Primary Osteoblasts

Introduction Co-culture systems consisting of endothelial cells and osteoblasts represent a promising approach to favour the formation of a stable vasculature. Additional treatment of co-cultures with growth factors or morphogens might accelerate and improve the bone repair process and furthermore might be useful for new therapeutic applications. Based on the importance of Shh signalling in angiogenesis as well as in osteogenesis the aim of this study was to investigate how the morphogen Shh affects co-cultures consisting of human primary osteoblasts (pOBs) and outgrowth endothelial cells (OECs) in comparison to treatment with the commonly used angiogenic factor, VEGF.