AKT1 and systemic sclerosis: We show here for the first time a synergistic activity of IL-17A and TGF-β for the production of IL-6 (and MCP-1) by SSc and HD dermal fibroblasts, an effect, at least in part, dependent on the convergent signaling mediated by p38 MAPK, NFκB, and PI3K/Akt, as examined in HD.