Abstract: Objective To study the distribution, morphology and density of CD68⁺ monocytes/macro,phages in normal human dermis. Methods Normal skin specimens from 6 sites including face, trunk, proximal limbs, distal limbs, palms and soles of 8 adults were collected. The epidermal sheets, horizontal and longitudinal sections of the specimens were stained with an ABC immunoperoxidase procedure with anti-CD68 monoclonal antibodies. Results The CD68⁺ cells were detected within the superficial dermis with various densities:562±230/mm² at distal limbs, 517±162/mm² at trunk, 509±235/mm² at face, 507±192/mm² at palms, 472±138/mm² at proximal limbs and 361±78/mm² at soles. Lower densities of CD68⁺ cells with dendritic morphology were found in the deep (reticular) dermis, and dispersed among collagen bundles. Conclusions There are CD68⁺ monocytes and macrophages in the superficial dermis, forming a relatively dense network of defense. Such a distribution might indicate the clear polarity of the CD68⁺ monocytes/macrophages in the dermis, with their direction of defense towards the dermal-epidermal junction.

Key words: Dermis, Monocytes, Macropages