To investigate the biological characteristics of human gingival epithelial cells (hGECs) in high-glucose environments.

Cultured primary hGECs, logarithmic growth phase of the 3rd passage cells were used for subsequent experiments. Experimental groups: (1) high glucose group: K-SFM medium containing 25 mmol/L D-glucose; (2) normal group: K-SFM medium containing 5.5 mmol/L D-glucose; (3) mannitol group: K-SFM medium containing 5.5 mmol/L D-glucose and 19.5 mmol/L mannitol. We used the MTS method to detect the proliferation of hGECs, applied flow cytometry to detect cell cycle and apoptosis of hGECs, and utilized wound healing test to detect migration of hGECs. Comparisons of the data among different groups were performed by repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) .

There is no statistically significant difference in cell proliferation activity (F = 5.053, P = 0.052) , proportion of cell proliferate (DNA synthesis phase) (F = 1.252, P = 0.351) and cell apoptosis (F = 0.325, P = 0.717) . Wound healing test showed after culture for 24 h, the scratch migration rate of hGECs in the high group was significantly lower than cells in the normal glucose group and mannitol group (F = 54.453, P = 0.000) .

High glucose had no significantly effect on cell morphology, cell proliferation and apoptosis of hGECs. However, it weakened the ability of cell migration of hGECs.