However, such a pro-angiogenic pattern of SSc-MVECs is counterbalanced by up-regulation of pent(r)axin 3, a powerful angiogenesis inhibitor, by down-regulation of a few critical pro-angiogenic transcripts (three tissue KLKs, plexin-B1, and DSG), and by alteration of transcripts involved in signal transduction pathways. The gene discussed is PLXNB1; the disease is systemic sclerosis.