DERMAL DENDROCYTES ARE DECREASED IN COLLAGENOMAS

Dermal dendrocytes comprise a subset of spindle-shaped cells which nor mally reside in the dermis. While they appear to play some role in the reticuloendothelial system, their exact functions have not been compl etely elucidated. In addition to their purported immunologic functions , it has been suggested that dermal dendrocytes may play an inhibitory role in the regulation of dermal collagen synthesis. We examined 7 co llagenomas with antibodies directed against factor XIIIa (FXIIIa) in o rder to test the hypothesis that dermal dendrocytes were focally dimin ished in these hamartomatous overgrowths of collagen. In all cases, th ere was a marked diminution in the number of FXIIIa-positive cells in the lesional dermis when compared to the surrounding dermis. Our data support the hypothesis that dermal dendrocytes may be involved in regu lation of collagen synthesis.