However, ample evidence indicated that the MeDEGs are involved in the characteristic pathology of SSc, including extracellular matrix remodeling (CSTA, CTSZ, CTSG, and ELANE), angiogenesis (CTSZ, CTSG, and CXCR6), coagulation/fibrolytic system (PLAUR and F2R), inflammatory response (C3AR1), and transcription factors associated with DEGs (NEF2, SPI1, and RUNX3) (Table 3). This evidence concerns the gene CTSZ and systemic sclerosis.