The wound healing and tube formation assays were performed as described previously [29 (link)]. Briefly, a monolayer of cells was scratched and imaged at zero time and after 18 h. Images were acquired using an Axiovert 200 microscope (Carl Zeiss). Images were analysed for the percentage of migration. For the tube formation assay, equal numbers of cells were grown in 3D Matrigel overnight and imaged after 18 h. Images were analysed for mean tube count per field. For permeability assay, BMVECs were cultured in Transwell plates (Corning Life Sciences, Acton, MA, USA) for 24 h in complete medium and then in serum-free medium for an additional 24 h. the confluent monolayer of BMVECs in the upper chamber of the Transwells was treated with FITC–dextran (1 mg/ml, mol. wt 150,000; Sigma). The fluorescence intensity, equivalent to the relative amount of FITC–dextran in the lower chambers of the Transwells, was measured over a 30 min period and determined using a Biotek Spectrometer (Biotek Instruments, Winooski, VT, USA) (excitation wavelength, 485 nm; emission wavelength, 530 nm). Experiments were performed three times in duplicates.