Chemotaxis of fibroblasts to root surface components in wound healing following flap surgery

Abstract

I investigated the chemotactic response of fibroblasts to root surface components in wound healing following flap surgery. I also studied the invasiveness of gingival fibroblasts into collagen gels when chemoattractive components and other growth factors were incorporated. Cell cultures were established from monkey periodontal tissues and rat calvariae. The root surface components were obtained from teeth extracted at various intervals after surgery. Deep cementum components produced the greatest chemotactic response. Their response was increased at days 4 and 7, but decreased at day 10. Deep cementnm components at day 7 facilitated invasion of gingival fibroblasts as well as PDGF and TGF-β. These results suggest that cementum components influence chemotactic migration of these cells in the initial stages of wound healing.