Biochemistry and histology of the connective tissue of Dupuytren's disease lesions.

When compared to age-matched control aponeurosis, lesions of Dupuytren's disease contain higher contents of water, collagen and chondroitin-sulphate, as well as increased proportions of soluble collagens and of reducible cross-links; these indicate synthesis of new collagen. The lesions show also increased amounts of type III collagen and an increased hydroxylation and glycosylation of the reducible cross-links. All these parameters are characteristic of granulation and scar tissues. Type III collagen was located by means of immunofluorescence on thin argyrophilic fibres and also within the large fibre bundles which appeared to be disrupted into microbundles. The increase of type III collagen and the presence of myofibroblasts in the apparently unaffected aponeurosis show that the disease is widespread and suggest that it is initiated within the aponeurosis and propagated by the cells migrating along the collagen bundles.