Fibroblast subpopulations in intra-oral wound healing.
The objective of this study was to characterize fibroblasts at sequential time points during intra-oral wound healing in the rat. Experimental wounds were made at several time points in the mucoperiosteum of the palate of 35-day-old Wistar rats. Fibroblasts were cultured from the biopsies under standard conditions for the same number of passages. The expression of the integrin subunits alpha 1, alpha 6, and beta 1; and the intermediate filaments alpha-smooth muscle actin and vimentin were analyzed by flow cytometry. Western blot analysis was performed at 0, 8, and 60 days postwounding to confirm the expression of both intermediate filaments. The phenotypic profiles of fibroblasts cultured from subsequent stages in the wound healing process differed considerably. We conclude that distinct fibroblast phenotypes can be isolated from different stages in wound healing. These phenotypes remained stable during in vitro culturing. In addition, cryosections of the wound areas were made at identical time points and were immunohistochemically stained for the same antigens. The immunohistochemical staining correlated well to the flow-cytometric data. These results suggest the occurrence of multiple subpopulations of fibroblasts with a specialized function during wound healing. We hypothesize that undesirable consequences of wound healing might be prevented through the modulation of specific fibroblast subpopulations.
van Beurden
Hugo E
HE
Department of Orthodontics and Oral Biology, University Medical Center Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. H.vanbeurden@dent.umcn.nl
Snoek
Patricia A M
PA
Von den Hoff
Johannes W
JW
Torensma
Ruurd
R
Kuijpers-Jagtman
Anne-Marie
AM
D000818:Animals; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D039423:Integrin alpha1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D039503:Integrin alpha6 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D007382:Intermediate Filaments / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D021362:Palate, Hard / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010641:Phenotype; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*
D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D039423:Integrin alpha1; D039503:Integrin alpha6; D019012:Integrin beta1; D009124:Muscle Proteins; C470305:Smooth muscle protein, rat