When we characterized these cells in terms of ColI and CD34 expression, we found statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) between scleroderma and normal PBMCs in CD11b+/CD14+/ColI+-expressing, CD11b+/CD14+/CD34+/ColI+-expressing and CD11b+/CD14-/CD34+/ColI+-expressing cells (Figure 5B). Here, ITGAM is linked to scleroderma.