Thus several molecular functions repressed in CECs of scleroderma patients, were restored after iloprost infusion as shown by the over-expression of antiapoptotic genes (RASA1, PRKAA1 and BNIP3) and of the transcripts encoding for adhesion molecules (ICAM1, ITGA3, ITGA9), chemokines and wound healing process (EREG, CTGF). The gene discussed is ICAM1; the disease is scleroderma.