Figure 2A shows the genes upregulated by at least two-fold in a statistically significant manner (top bin) that contain already established markers of endothelial injury and activation, such as the Apelin receptor APLNR (31–36), as well as previously identified markers of vascular dysfunction in SSc, such as THBS1 (16, 37–39) and VWF (13, 40,–44). This evidence concerns the gene APLNR and systemic sclerosis.