Proteoglycan-lymphocyte association in the development of hypertrophic scars.

Parallel histological stains and immunohistological stains were made of hypertrophic scars and normal scars in order to identify the type of cells and associated proteoglycans present in perivascular cuffs in hypertropic scars. Tissue sections were treated with monoclonal antibodies which specifically recognize T-cells and unsulphated, 4-sulphated and 6-sulphated chondroitin proteoglycans. There was a striking association between the perivascular lymphocytic infiltration and chondroitin-4-sulphate, which may be an important contributory factor in the development of hypertrophic scars.