Background: It has been demonstrated that human cultured epithelial sheets prepared by tissue engineering techniques provide useful graft material for wound healing and tissue regeneration. However, limited information is available with regard to biological effects such as release of growth factors from human cultured gingival epithelial sheets (HCGES). The purpose of this study was to measure the levels of growth factors released from HCGES into culture medium.
Methods: Twenty patients aged 44 to 71 years with generalized chronic periodontitis were recruited, and their gingival tissues obtained during periodontal flap surgery. The levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor-alpha and -beta1 (TGF-alpha and -beta1), and epidermal growth factor (EGF) released into the culture medium were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at the just confluent (T1) and the adequate stratification (T2) culture stages. The medium without cells was collected as a control (T0). Statistical tests were performed by analysis of variance and Sheffé multiple range test among T0, T1, and T2.
Results: Significantly higher levels of VEGF and TGF-alpha were observed at T1 and T2 compared to T0 (P<0.001). In addition, there was a significant difference in the TGF-alpha levels between T2 and T1 (P<0.001). TGF-beta1 at T1 was significantly higher in comparison to T0 (P <0.01). EGF had been released only in a small amount at T2.
Conclusion: This study indicates that meaningful amounts of VEGF and TGF-alpha and -beta1 are released from HCGES, which suggests potential for promoting wound healing and tissue regeneration after grafting.