Keratinocyte growth factor accelerates wound closure of airway epithelium during cyclic strain

Wound closure was investigated using primary cultures of cat tracheal epithelium (CTE), normal human bronchial airway epithelial cells (NHBE), and a cell line of human airway epithelial cells (Calu 3). CTE wound closure in the periphery and in the center of unstretched wells was identical, but wound closure in the periphery and in the center of wells subjected to cyclic strain was inhibited. Similar results were obtained for NHBE and Calu 3 cells. Cyclic elongation and cyclic compression inhibited overall epithelial wound closure in vitro. Furthermore, keratinocyte growth factor significantly accelerated wound closure and overcame the inhibitory effects of cyclic strain.