Effects of HB-EGF and epiregulin on wound healing of gingival cells in vitro

Gingival wound healing is important to periodontal disease and surgery. This in vitro study was conducted to assess the manner in which heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) and epiregulin cooperatively participate in the wound-healing process in the gingival epithelial and fibroblast cells of the oral mucosa. Material and Methods: Gingival epithelium and fibroblast were separated from gingival tissue biopsies and prepared to primary cultures. The changes in the mRNA expression were evaluated via real-time PCR. The effects on cell proliferation, migration, and repopulation were evaluated in vitro. Results: The different regulation of expressions of HB-EGF, epiregulin, and epidermal growth factor receptors was observed over time and with different gingival cell types. HB-EGF exerted a cell migration-inducing effect on both epithelial and fibroblast cells, whereas epiregulin did not. Both growth factors functioned as mitogens for epithelial cell proliferation, but not for fibroblast proliferation. HB-EGF strongly promoted epithelial cell repopulation and mildly promoted fibroblast repopulation, whereas epiregulin promoted only fibroblast repopulation. Conclusion: These results indicated that both growth factors might function importantly in the wound-healing process of human gingival tissue via the different regulation of the expression, cell migration, proliferation, and repopulation.