TGFB1 and systemic sclerosis: In this trial, SSc patients were treated for 7 and 24 weeks with fresolimumab (Figure 5B) and HSPG2 expression was reduced by the end of 24 weeks in a statistically significant manner (ANOVA, p value 0.027), indicating that HSPG2 expression is inhibited by TGF-β blockade, coincident with the decrease in disease activity and skin inflammation seen with fresolimumab.