Abstract:BackgroundMacrophages and fibroblasts are key effector cell types present in scleroderma tissue1. While the effect of scleroderma fibroblast conditioned medium on macrophages has been previously studied2, less is known about the effect of scleroderma macrophages on fibroblasts. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an important mediator of fibrosis and is overexpressed in scleroderma sera and cells such as skin fibroblasts, monocytes and endothelial cells3. Given the increase in IL-6 levels in scleroderma and presence of th… Show more
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