The N-terminus region spanned by aa 57-180 is a dominant epitope in anti-Ro52+/Ro60+ SSc patients but not in Ro52+/Ro60- SSc patients suggesting that Ro60 directly or indirectly is involved in the shaping of the epitopic repertoire of anti-Ro52 Abs, a finding which warranties further investigation(35, 36). This evidence concerns the gene RO60 and systemic sclerosis.