Fibronectin. Localization in normal human skin, granulation tissue, hypertrophic scar, mature scar, progressive systemic sclerotic skin, and other fibrosing dermatoses.

The histologic localization of fibronectin (FN) in normal human skin, granulation tissue, hypertrophic scar, mature scar, progressive systemic sclerotic skin, and tissue of other fibrotic disorders was investigated by an indirect immunofluorescence technique using specific antiserum prepared in rabbits against purified human plasma FN. In granulation tissue that developed just after traumatic wounding, FN seemed to increase remarkably in the wound as a fibrillar network. In the hypertrophic scar, one to five years after wounding, FN was detected in a linear or curling arrangement throughout the dermis. On the contrary, FN gradually decreased in the wound of the mature scar five to 20 years after wounding. There were some interesting observations among other diseases. In the skin of patients with progressive systemic sclerosis and morphea, FN was found to be localized faintly on the dermoepidermal junction and papillary dermis. In the involved skin of dermatofibroma, FN was observed in a curling arrangement throughout the dermis.