To investigate whether an epigenetic mechanism mediates underexpression of BMPRII in SSc-MVECs, control-MVECs and SSc-MVECs were treated with the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor (5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine) at 5 μM for 5 days and the histone deacetylase inhibiter (TSA, 100 ng/ml of trichostatin) alone or in combination. The gene discussed is BMPR2; the disease is systemic sclerosis.