The phenotype of cultured fibroblasts from patients affected by Apert's syndrome, a rare connective disorder, differs from that of normal cells in its extracellular matrix macromolecule composition (glycosaminoglycans, collagens and fibronectin) and is further modulated by treatment with interleukins (ILs).
Elevated synthesis of fibronectin in the calvaria of patients with Apert syndrome and increased fibronectin gene expression in port wine-derived fibroblasts of patients with Sturge-Weber disease have also been reported.