Immunohistochemical analysis of cells attached to teflon membranes following guided tissue regeneration.

A wide panel of monoclonal antibodies to various keratins together with an anti-vimentin antibody to label mesenchymal cells were used to label cells attached to expanded polytetrafluorethylene (ePTFE) membranes removed 6 weeks postoperatively from 7 patients. All membranes demonstrated variable amounts of adherent tissue, within which vimentin-positive cells were detected. In 8 of the 18 samples, no epithelial cells were detected. Seven of the 18 samples demonstrated small groups of epithelial cells on both sides of the membranes, staining predominantly as basal cells. The remaining 3 samples were more densely populated by epithelium which expressed a diverse keratin profile. Thus, the membranes were successful in establishing mesenchymal cell proliferation, as evidenced by vimentin positivity, but did not totally exclude epithelium.