CD146 localization on HUVECs at different stages of confluence by confocal microscopy.

In subconfluent HUVECs (A), CD146 was initially perinuclear with some peripheral patches. With the progression of intercellular contacts, an increase in CD146 was observed—as a fine line along the cell periphery at the beginning of confluence (B, recently confluent) and as a thicker line after prolonged confluence, with intercellular digitations (C). At late confluence (D), the cells were also stained with ST4, an irrelevant mAb used as a control. Magnification × 100.