Purpose: To investigate the effect of fibronectin and tenascin on the migration of corneal fibroblasts.
Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Vienna, Medical School, Vienna, Austria.
Methods: Using human corneal fibroblasts, a monolayer migration assay was performed to measure corneal fibroblast movement. The migration on collagen I, fibronectin, and tenascin with and without transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha/fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 stimulation and the effect of soluble tenascin and fibronectin on corneal fibroblast migration on collagen-I-coated wells were investigated.
Results: The cytokines TGF-alpha and FGF-2 stimulated migrational activity of corneal stromal cells in a dose-dependent manner, reaching the maximum effect at 100 ng/mL and 10 ng/mL, respectively. The migration of corneal fibroblasts on fibronectin was significantly higher (P <.05) than the migration on collagen I. Transforming growth factor-alpha and FGF-2 increased radial cell displacement independent of the provided matrix composition. Tenascin had a negative effect on corneal fibroblast adhesion/migration in this in vitro model.
Conclusion: Fibronectin and tenascin influenced corneal fibroblast migration and adhesion, respectively, and may play a role in stromal cell movement during wound healing. The cytokines TGF-alpha and FGF-2 had an additive effect on corneal fibroblast migration on a fibronectin matrix.