The effect of fibronectin on the migration of keratinocytes.

Basal cell migration appears to be a crucial factor in the development of acquired cholesteatoma. We studied the effect of fibronectin (FN) on the migration of basal cells. Keratinocytes were prepared from epidermis of newborn rats and fractionated using Percoll gradients. The lightest cells were maturing keratinocytes and the heaviest, basal cells. The effect of various concentrations of FN on keratinocyte migration was studied using Boyden's chamber assay and the spreading assay methods. FN had little effect on mature keratinocytes, but FN markedly stimulated the migration of keratinocyte basal cells. FN appears to play an important role in stimulating basal cell keratinocyte migration.