Abstract:BackgroundMesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are pleuripotent bone marrow and tissue resident cells implicated in homeostasis and tissue repair. Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma, SSc) is a severe connective tissue disease characterised by progressive fibrotic thickening of the dermis, accompanied by loss of subcutaneous fat and microvasculature. Aberrant activation of MSCs within the disease microenvironment may underly the persistent fibrotic repair process, or account for the failure of adipogenesis and dysregulat… Show more
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