title: Molecular and cellular basis of scleroderma.
abstract: Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) is a chronic inflammatory disease that leads to fibrosis of the skin and involved internal organs. No efficient therapy is currently available. This review summarizes recent progress made in basic as well as clinical science and concludes with a concept that therapy targeting fibrosis in scleroderma needs to take into account the global microenvironment in the skin with its diverse cellular players interacting with a complex extracellular matrix environment and matrix-associated growth factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eckes
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moinzadeh
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sengle
authors.forename: Nico
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hunzelmann
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Krieg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*