Treatment with modified mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) — which can differentiate into a variety of cell types — alleviated the signs of skin scarring, or fibrosis, in a scleroderma mouse model, a study showed. These MSCs, a type of adult stem cell that can modulate immune responses and suppress inflammation,…
Researchers have developed a 3D blood vessel-on-a-chip model to investigate problems with blood vessel growth in systemic sclerosis (SSc), a study reported. Immune-mediated changes to blood vessels is an early and central event in SSc development and usually occurs before the onset of fibrosis — the buildup of scar…
Raynaud’s phenomenon or skin ulcer symptoms associated with scleroderma worsened in around one-third of patients after iloprost infusions were stopped for a spell at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a survey study of patients in Italy reported. A low density of small blood vessels predicted the worsening of symptoms…
People treated with Ofev (nintedanib) for interstitial lung disease associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc-ILD) had a twofold loss of lung function over one year compared to a hypothetical group of matched healthy references whose lung function declines naturally with age, an analysis of the SENSCIS trial showed. The…
An altered balance of immune B-cell subtypes was linked to skin and lung involvement in people with more severe systemic scleroderma, a study suggested. The results indicate that restoring that balance may be a novel therapeutic target in people with severe forms of the condition, the scientists noted. The…
Variants of immune-regulating human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes were associated with the risk of systemic scleroderma, subtypes of the condition, and the presence of self-reactive antibodies, a large-scale genetic analysis showed. These findings underscored the genetic contribution to the disease and support future investigations into immunological susceptibility and external…
To kick off Scleroderma Awareness Month, the Scleroderma Research Foundation (SRF) will host a free online patient forum, Collaborating for a Cure, on June 1. The half-day forum will gather leaders from the medical and scientific community so that those who live with scleroderma, and their families and…
Fat-derived cells from adults with diffuse cutaneous scleroderma that are then injected under the skin of the hands led to clinically meaningful improvements in hand function, according to published data from the Phase 3 STAR I clinical trial. The safety and efficacy of using these cells, called adipose-derived regenerative…
A combination of ultrasound and therapy that includes joint manipulation and massage improved hand function and ulcer wound healing in a small group of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients with skin involvement, a study reported. “Therapeutic [ultrasound ] combined with manual therapy should be used as additional intervention to manage…
Gene activity profiles in blood cells isolated from systemic sclerosis patients with interstitial lung disease predicted lung function responses to the immunosuppressant therapy CellCept (mycophenolate mofetil), a study has shown. These findings support the use of non-invasive gene profiling to identify patients who will best respond to CellCept…
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