Fibroblasts are mesenchymal cells which perform many vital functions during development and in adulthood. They are responsible for much of the synthesis of extracellular matrix in connective tissue and play major roles in wound healing. Many diseases are associated with fibroblasts, either because fibroblasts are implicated in their etiology or because of the fibrosis that accompanies damage to other cell types. Fibroblasts are one of the most accessible mammalian cell types and one of the easiest types of cells to grow in culture. Gingival fibroblasts are the major constituents of gingival tissue and play a key role in their maintenance. Human gingival fibroblasts (HGnF) express a wide variety of surface molecules including CD9, CD26, CD55, CD59, CD63, CD71, CD86 CD95, CD99 and CD117. They also express mRNAs for protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1) and PAR-3. HGnF from ScienCell Research Laboratories are isolated from human gingiva. HGnF are cryopreserved at passage one and delivered frozen. Each vial contains >5 x 105 cells in 1 ml volume. HGnF are characterized by their spindle morphology and immunofluorescence with antibodies specific to fibronectin. HGnF are negative for HIV-1, HBV, HCV, mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast and fungi. HGnF are guaranteed to further expand for 15 population doublings under the conditions provided by ScienCell Research Laboratories. Recommended Medium It is recommended to use Fibroblast Medium (FM, Cat. #2301) for the culturing of HGnF in vitro.