ABSENCE OF BINDING OF HUMAN SALIVARY GLYCOPROTEIN TO HUMAN GINGIVAL FIBROBLAST-LIKE CELLS IN-VITRO

The aim of this study was to determine whether human high molecular we ight salivary,glycoprotein binds in vitro to human gingival fibroblast -like cells, Primary monolayer cultures of 2 human gingival fibroblast -like cell lines were incubated with a high molecular weight fraction of salivary glycoprotein which expressed blood group A activity and gl ycoprotein-cell binding probed using an FITC-conjugated mouse monoclon al antibody to human blood group A antigen. Surface fluorescence of pr otein-treated cells was found to be no greater than that of untreated or serum-treated control cultures. As significant binding of salivary glycoprotein to gingival fibroblast-like cells does not occur in vitro , saliva-mediated inhibition of fibroblast attachment to hydroxyapatit e is not dependent on specific ligand-lectin interactions.