In vitro migration and adhesion of fibroblasts from different phases of palatal wound healing.

Cleft palate patients often show mid-facial growth impairment after surgical closure of the defect. This is a consequence of palatal wound healing, and more specifically of wound contraction and scar tissue formation. Cells of the fibroblast lineage are responsible for these processes and they display different phenotypes in the course of the wound healing process. The aim of this study was to analyze the in vitro adhesion and migration of wound fibroblasts, isolated during the palatal wound healing process in the rat. Additionally, we analyzed the expression of beta1 integrins and vinculin, the key players in adhesion and migration. Palatal fibroblasts from age-matched controls were analyzed to measure the effects of normal aging. Palatal fibroblasts from unwounded tissue showed a low migratory behavior (<25 microm), a strong capability to adhere (>80%) and a low expression of beta1 integrins and vinculin. In contrast, fibroblasts obtained from healing palatal wounds were highly migratory (>200 microm) coupled to a weak capability to adhere (<65%) and a high expression of vinculin and beta1 integrins. These data show that the palatal wound healing process induces a change in fibroblast phenotype from "quiescent" to "activated," which persists in vitro.