IL6 and systemic sclerosis: As shown in Figures 8A,B, while no changes in IL-1β were observed (0.07 ± 0.02 vs. 0.09 ± 0.02 pg/ml; p = 0.41), co-treatment of SSc cells with LPS + BzATP induced a significant 2.4-fold increase in IL-6 supernatant levels (2.5 ± 2.6 vs. 6.0 ± 3.0 pg/ml; p = 0.0032).