The differences observed between this study and previous ones, regarding the expression of B-cell surface molecules such as CD40, CD21, and CD86 or the secretion of IL-10 and IL-6 by SSc B cells, could be attributed to different experimental settings or to the composition of the study group, in terms of the proportion of patients presenting lcSSc or dcSSc, as well as the undergoing therapy (21, 29). This evidence concerns the gene CD40 and systemic sclerosis.