OBJECTIVETo investigate immunohistochemical presentation of fibromodulin in vitro during wound healing of three types of periodontal cells and discuss the role of fibromodulin.

METHODSCultured periodontal cells were wounded and followed by observation up to 7 days. The immunohistochemical expression of fibromodulin in periodontal cells was observed.

RESULTSImmunohistochemical localization of fibromodulin during cellular wound healing showed that newly migrating periodontal cells toward the wound area were expressed strongly for fibromodulin at day 1 after wounding; thereafter, fibromodulin expression was noted stronger in newly migrating periodontal cells localized in the central part of the wound area than those around the wound area.

CONCLUSIONThese data suggest that fibromodulin may be involved in the early events of wound healing for periodontal cells.