For example, although the mRNA levels of MMP1 gene in SSc dermal fibroblasts from patients with disease duration of <1 year are significantly higher than those in normal dermal fibroblasts, SSc dermal fibroblasts from patients with disease duration of 2–4 years show low mRNA levels of MMP1 gene compared with normal dermal fibroblasts. This evidence concerns the gene MMP1 and systemic sclerosis.