Supernatant from an activated human CD4+ T-cell clone modulates the proliferation and collagen synthesis of human dental pulp fibroblasts.

Several studies indicate a relationship between immunocompetent cells and fibroblast functions such as proliferation and collagen synthesis, which may be of importance in understanding the process of fibrosis. We demonstrate here the activity of supernatant from an activated human CD4+ proliferative T-cell clone (2F1) in stimulating the proliferation of human dental pulp fibroblasts, while inhibiting their soluble type I collagen secretion in either growing or confluent cultures. Taken together, our results indicate that T-cell derived lymphokines may be of importance in regulating normal dental pulp fibroblast functions.