Methods: The sample of CAFs was gained from a 42-year-old female patient suffering from gingival carcinoma, and the sample of normal fibroblasts (NFs) was gained from the normal gum of the same patient. Both samples were cultured in vitro, researching on their biological disparity between the two purified strains by immunohistochemistry, proliferative activity detection, migration assay and transwell invasive test. Non-invasive strain (CAFs-NI) and hyper-invasive strain (CAFs-HI) were sieved from the CAFs by coated transwell caves. The expressive level of FAP, á-SMA and MMP-2 were analyzed and compared between the CAFs-NI and CAFs-HI by immunohistochemistrical staining, western immunoblotting detection and flow cell immunity counting.
Results: NFs and CAFs displayed a typical ‘S' morphous growth curve. The proliferative activity and the adherence rate of CAFs were higher than that of NFs. Scratching test showed that CAFs possesed a higher migration potential, repairing 0.8mm scratching by 24h. The invasive ability of CAFs was exceed that of NFs. (P<0.05). The positive expression of Vimentin and negative expression of Cytokeratin were shown in both CAFs and NFs, but FAP, MMP-2 and á-SMA were positive in CAFs, while negative in NFs. The expression level of FAP, á-SMA and MMP-2 in CAFs-HI was higher than that of CAFs-NI, according to immunohistochemistrical staining, western immunoblotting detection and flow cell immunity counting.
Conclusions: CAFs posses higher ability of generation, invasion and adherence. CAFs characteristically express FAP, á-SMA and MMP-2. The high invasive ability of CAFs has positive correlation with the expression level of FAP, á-SMA and MMP-2.