Physiologic levels of salivary epidermal growth factor stimulate migration of an oral epithelial cell line.

An established line of human oral epithelial cells exhibits chemotaxis to epidermal growth factor (EGF). The directed migration of these cells is time dependent with an approximate 10-fold increase in the number of cells responding to the chemoattractant by 6 h. Cell migration occurs in a concentration dependent manner with maximal response at approximately 1 ng/ml. This maximal chemotactic response occurs within the physiologic concentration range for EGF found in human saliva. These data suggest that EGF may be important for the maintenance of an intact oral epithelial (mucosal) barrier, and may play a vital role in oral mucosal wound healing.