摘要The present study aimed to assess the molecular profiles of subepithelial connective tissue grafts(CTGs)obtained at different locations and depths in the human palate.Sixty-four CTGs belonging to anterior deep(AD),anterior superficial(AS),posterior deep(PD),and posterior superficial(PS)groups were subjected to RNA-Sequencing and their transcriptomes were analyzed computationally.Functional correlations characterizing the CTG groups were validated by cell biological experiments using primary human palatal fibroblasts(HPFs)extracted from the CTGs.A clearly more pronounced location-dependent than depth-dependent difference between the grafts,with a minimal number of genes(4)showing no dependence on the location,was revealed.Epithelial,endothelial,and monocytic cell migration was strongly(P＜0.001)potentiated by AD-and PS-HPFs.Moreover,significantly increased expression of genes encoding C-C and C-X-C motif chemokine ligands as well as significantly(P＜0.01)activated p38 signaling suggested immunomodulatory phenotype for AD-and PS-HPFs.Increased growth factor gene expression and significantly activated(P＜0.001)Erk and Akt signaling in HPFs originating from A-CTGs implied their involvement in cell survival,proliferation,and motility.Prominent collagen-rich expression profile contributing to high mechanical stability,increased osteogenesis-related gene expression,and strongly activated(P＜0.001)Smad1/5/8 signaling characterized HPFs originating from P-CTGs.The present data indicate that in humans,differences between palatal CTGs harvested from different locations and depths appear to be location-rather than depth-dependent.Our findings provide the basis for future personalization of the therapeutic strategy by selecting an optimal graft type depending on the clinical indications.