Indeed, according to this view, our Ki67 and active caspase-3 western blotting data show that while stimulation with sKl induces proliferation and inhibits apoptosis of SSc-MVECs over time, such pro-proliferative and anti-apoptotic effects are only transient in H-MVECs, being in fact rapidly followed by cell proliferation arrest and increased apoptosis. This evidence concerns the gene MKI67 and systemic sclerosis.