Collagen degradation by fibroblasts was studied in the absence of other cell types to improve our understanding of the mechanisms by which fibroblasts digest collagen. Human gingival fibroblasts were cultured in α -MEM medium for eight weeks. Incisional wounds were made in the fibroblast cultures, and the cells were fixed by different procedures at two days post-wounding. Collagen remodeling has been investigated by tracer experiments and by cytochemical demonstration of acid and alkaline phosphatase activity at the ultrastructural level and stereological analysis in experimental wound-healing in vitro.
The results showed that fibroblasts in the wounded zone exhibited high collagen phagocytic activity, and indicate that fibroblasts have a fundamental role to play in collagen remodeling in wound repair in vitro. This in vitro experimental system is also suggested as a useful model for the analysis of collagen remodeling in wound-healing by fibroblasts.
