Fibronectin mediated human gingival fibroblasts attachment to bone.

Experiments were undertaken to examine the effects of acid and fibronectin treatments on the human gingival fibroblast attachment to bone in vitro. The binding of [125I]fibronectin to bone powders was dependent on concentration of fibronectin and incubation time. The optimum pH of [125I]fibronectin attachment to bone powders was 6.0 using phosphate buffer. Acid treatment on bone powders in low concentration such as 10 mM of citric acid enhanced [125I]fibronectin binding. The attachment of [3H]thymidine labelled human gingival fibroblasts to bone was enhanced 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5-fold by citric acid, fibronectin and citric acid + fibronectin treatment, respectively. Scanning electron microscopic observations confirm that citric acid and/or fibronectin treatment enhanced the cell number and rapidity of fibroblast attachment to bone surfaces.