Migration of gingival fibroblasts on fibronectin and laminin

The migrational behavior of fibroblasts is critical for the maintenance and healing of the periodontium. The purpose of this study was to determine, in vitro, the differences found in gingival fibroblast migration on the following substrates: fibronectin, laminin, bovine serum albumin (BSA), or plastic. Filter paper strips soaked in solutions of the test molecules were placed in 35 mm culture dishes. Equimolar amounts of the various proteins were allowed to dry onto the plastic in a discrete band. The bands were masked and 5.0 x 10(4) cells seeded. Rat gingival fibroblasts were allowed to attach for 1.5 hours and the protein bands uncovered and incubation continued for 24 hours under standard conditions. Cells were fixed, stained and cell images captured, computer digitized and migrational areas and cell numbers and areas quantified after converting pixels to microm. Cell migration was enhanced on fibronectin substrates. Statistically significant differences (P < 0.01) were found for total area covered (fibronectin, mean = 110.8 mm2 vs. controls: plastic, mean = 28.2 mm2; BSA, mean = 18.2 mm2) and the number of cells migrating as compared to controls (fibronectin, mean = 1184 vs. controls: plastic, mean = 304, BSA, mean = 230). No significant differences in area covered or numbers of cells migrating were found between controls and cells exposed to other substrates. Mean spread area per cell was not statistically significantly different for any of the conditions. Numbers of cells migrating on substrates other than fibronectin were reduced even more when protein synthesis was inhibited using cycloheximide. In this system fibronectin serves as a cue to recruit significantly greater numbers of fibroblasts to migrate for greater distances than the other molecules tested.