Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-1-2025

Comments

This article is the author's final published version in International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Volume 26, Issue 19, October 2025, Article Number 9596.

The published version is available at https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26199596. Copyright © The Author(s).

Abstract

Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is a systemic autoimmune disease of unknown etiology characterized by a severe fibroproliferative vasculopathy and frequently progressive cutaneous and internal organ fibrosis. The small-vessel vasculopathy and the tissue fibrotic alterations are responsible for the most serious clinical and pathological manifestations of the disease and for its high mortality. Despite the high severity and frequent mortality, there are currently no optimal therapeutic approaches for SSc, and its complex pathogenesis has not been fully elucidated. Numerous studies have suggested that growth factors and related regulatory macromolecules released from inflammatory and other cells present in the affected tissues play a crucial role in the frequently progressive cutaneous and visceral fibrosis. Here, we will review some of the recent studies describing the role of various growth factors and related macromolecules in the development and progression of the fibrotic process in SSc.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

PubMed ID

41096861

Language

English

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