BMP2 and systemic sclerosis: Addition of H2O2 resulted in significant MVECs apoptosis, particularly in SSc cells that were reversed by addition of BMP2 in normal cells, but not in SSc cells, suggesting a role for BMPRII signalling in preventing oxidation-induced apoptosis in normal cells and that a defective expression of BMPRII in SSc renders the cells susceptible to oxidation injury.