The presence of circulating CD4+ and CD8+ T cells specific to the most immunogenic HCMV antigens (i.e., the regulatory tegument phosphoprotein pp65 and the major immediate-early protein IE1) and also to the UL94 gene product (known to produce high antibody titres in SSc patients) was studied in SSc patients and healthy subjects. The gene discussed is CD4; the disease is systemic sclerosis.