[Dermal dendrocytes and factor XIIIa in normal and pathological skin].

The existence of dermal dendrocytes as perivascular dendritic macrophages, first described six years ago, has now been widely accepted. These cells are most reliably identified immunohistochemically by the marker factor XIIIa and form a resident network in normal human cutaneous tissue. They appear to play an important role in phagocytosis, inflammation and immunocompetence. In addition, they form the constituent cell of several fibroproliferative and neoplastic skin disorders. This article offers an update of dermal dendrocytes and factor XIIIa in normal and pathological skin.