Autocrine fibronectin-induced migration of human colonic fibroblasts.

OBJECTIVES

A central event during wound repair is the migration of activated fibroblasts to the wound area. Thus far, the mechanisms inducing migration of colonic lamina propria fibroblasts (CLPF) have not been studied in detail. Previously, we have shown that CLPF secrete factors that are essential to their ability to migrate in response to different growth factors.

METHODS

Primary human CLPF were obtained from endoscopic biopsies or surgical specimens taken from normal mucosa areas of patients undergoing surveillance colonoscopy or surgery for colorectal carcinoma. Migration assays of CLPF were performed in the modified 48-well Boyden chamber.

RESULTS

Conditioned medium of CLPF collected after 24-h stimulated migration of CLPF (22 +/- 2 cells/ hpf). Filtration of conditioned medium through a 300-kDa filter reduced the migration-inducing potential in subsequent migration assays to 2 +/- 1 cells/hpf, filtration through a 100-kDa filter abolished migration of CLPF completely, indicating that large molecules such as extracellular matrix components could be responsible for the induction of CLPF migration. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays revealed the presence of fibronectin in conditioned medium (17.3 microg/ml). Immunoprecipitation of fibronectin in conditioned medium of CLPF reduced the migration-inducing potential by 63%. Addition of fibronectin to fibronectin-depleted conditioned medium reconstituted the migration. Dose-response assays with fibronectin (1-100 microg/ml) diluted in nonconditioned medium induced migration of CLPF in a dose-dependent manner. Maximum migration was induced with 25 microg/ml fibronectin (37 +/- 5 cells/hpf).

CONCLUSION

Fibronectin is an autocrine and paracrine factor essential for intestinal fibroblast migration. Fibronectin induces migration of intestinal fibroblasts and is essential for their ability to migrate in response to different growth factors. A detailed understanding of the regulation of the migration of intestinal fibroblasts is necessary to gain further insights in the pathophysiology of stricture and fistula formation.