DERMAL DENDROCYTES IN DUPUYTRENS DISEASE - A LINK BETWEEN THE SKIN AND PATHOGENESIS

The skin has previously been implicated in the process of Dupuytren's disease. The dermal dendrocyte is a factor XIIIa positive cell, which has been found in normal skin and some pathological conditions associa ted with fibrosis. In this study we examined the distribution of facto r XIIIa positive cells in and around tissue from Dupuytren's disease. Immunohistochemistry was performed using a panel of antibodies for fac tor XIIIa, macrophages (CD68 and MAC387) and MHC II. Many factor XIIIa positive dendritic cells were present in and around Dupuytren's tissu e; fewer CD68 and MHC II positive cells and very few MAC387 cells were seen. We propose that the factor XIIIa positive cells are dermal dend rocytes. This study may indicate an important link between the skin an d pathogenesis of Dupuytren's disease.