Ultrastructure of cutaneous cellular infiltrates in scleroderma

Abstract

EM of the skin was performed in 10 patients with systemic and 4 with localized scleroderma. The following 3 groups of cells were identified: mature lymphocytes, T [thymus-derived] lymphoblasts, immature plasma cells and plasma cells; fibroblasts, fibrocytes and fibroblast-like cells; and macrophages, undifferentiated mesenchymal cells and monocytes. In those specimens with mononuclear cell infiltrates, the most common cells were lymphocytic-types, macrophages and fibroblasts with well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum. In the specimens at the fibrotic stage, fibroblasts and histiocytic-type cells predominated. This study suggests that cellular and humoral immunity may play a role in the pathophysiology of scleroderma.