title: Deciphering the genetic background of systemic sclerosis.
abstract: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a severe autoimmune connective tissue disease. Over the years, evidence for a genetic background of SSc susceptibility has clearly accumulated. This article aims to provide an extensive overview of genetics in SSc research. We discuss indicators for a genetic component present in SSc, family studies, chromosomal aberrances, the involvement of the HLA region and multiple candidate genes and, finally, genome-wide association studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jasper C A
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Broen
authors.forename: Marieke J H
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Coenen
authors.forename: Timothy R D J
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Radstake
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D030541:Databases, Genetic / Q000639:trends; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000639:trends; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D050835:Interferon Regulatory Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D050797:STAT4 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; C431713:IRF5 protein, human; D050835:Interferon Regulatory Factors; D050797:STAT4 Transcription Factor