The authors observed IL-13-producing CD8+ T cells in mononuclear infiltrates in the skin of SSc patients and also a considerable number of CD8+ T cells expressing skin-homing receptors in blood, which suggests that CD8+ T cells have an important role in the initiation of the disease even though they may also contribute to disease progression since they remain present to a lesser extent in late SSc stages where CD4+ T cells seem to prevail [23]. This evidence concerns the gene CD8A and systemic sclerosis.