Since CCL2 levels in SSc monocytes varied widely, we increased the number of subjects sampled (36 patients with SSc, 32 control subjects) and the difference in CCL2 gene expression between the two groups reached statistical significance (0.37 ± 0.53 vs. 0.11 ± 0.07, P = 0.04) (Figure 2). This evidence concerns the gene CCL2 and systemic sclerosis.