The oral mucosa is susceptible to tissue injury from many causes, including infection, autoimmune disorders. surgical and accidental trauma, and gingival and periodontal inflammation; however, little is known about the events that influence wound healing in the mouth. Recent studies in non-oral tissues have implicated immune system-derived factors, in particular chemokines, in the wound healing process. Tissues from mice with experimental gingival wounds were studied for expression of genes for four chemokine ligands or receptors (CCL19, CCL20, CCL25, and CCR5) that are important in leukocyte trafficking or inflammation. Notably, during the peak phase of wound healing, chemokine gene expression was up-regulated for CCL19, CCL20, and CCL25, and down-regulation of CCR5, suggesting an orchestrated process of chemokine-mediated recruitment or retention of lymphocytes and macrophages into wound areas, while simultaneously suppressing a potentially adverse inflammatory response. These findings have implications for developing therapeutic strategies aimed at promoting more effective tissue healing at oral surfaces. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.