Compared to H-MSCs, SSc-MSCs displayed deregulation of the contractile VSMC program indicated by lack of up-regulation of terminal differentiation markers—SM22α and smooth muscle calponin (sm-Calponin)—in response to CTGF and by decrease in their expression upon b-FGF (Fig 3A and 3B). Here, CCN2 is linked to systemic sclerosis.