Phenotype expression of gingival fibroblasts cultured on membranes used in guided tissue regeneration

Human gingival fibroblasts were cultured in vitro using as substrates an extracellular matrix (matrix) and polytetrafluoride (PTFE) membranes, which are used in guided tissue regeneration. To test the degree of biocompatibility of these membranes, the cellular proliferation and the accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) macromolecules were considered as parameters. The fibroblasts were cultured in vitro for 24 and 48 hours without serum on plastic, matrix, and PTFE membranes in the presence of 3H-thymidine, 3H-glucosamine, and 3H-proline to study the neo-synthesis of DNA, glycosaminoglycans (GAG), and collagen proteins, respectively. Studies on cell proliferation showed that fibroblasts grown on matrix membrane significantly increased 3H-thymidine incorporation, while fibroblasts grown on PTFE membrane decreased 3H-thymidine incorporation, compared to plastic used as a control. Moreover, the PTFE membrane induced a marked decrease of collagen and GAG accumulation both in the cellular and extracellular pool, while the matrix membrane provoked a decrease of the two macromolecules in the cellular pool and an increase in the extracellular one, compared to the control. The data we obtained demonstrate that matrix membranes are the most suitable to stimulate both cellular proliferation and ECM macromolecule accumulation.