Fig. 3

Mechanisms of interaction of ageing-affected ECM with ECs and pericytes during angiogenesis. In younger adult ECM (top), the softer matrix interacts with ECs to promote survival, proliferation, migration, and differentiation, and there is neovascular growth from blood vessels, forming a vascular lumen that interacts with pericytes, leading to pericyte recruitment and promoting neovascular maturation. In ageing-affected ECM (bottom), the rigid matrix interacts with ECs to promote apoptosis and reduce the proliferation, migration, and differentiation capacity of ECs, leading to a decrease in neovascular growth. In addition, the interaction with pericytes leads to a decrease in the capacity for pericyte recruitment and a reduction in the ability of the neovasculature to mature and stabilize