Abstract:BackgroundSystemic sclerosis (SSc) is a complex systemic autoimmune disease characterized by microvascular dysfunction, immune activation and fibrosis affecting the skin and internal organs (1). Improved characterization of the fibrotic mechanisms involved in SSc is a keystone to developing biomarkers and effective disease-modifying therapies. The activation of endothelial cells (ECs) appears very early in the course of the disease, suggesting that chronic fibroblast activation may be at least partly the resul… Show more
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