Gene expression results were also confirmed by the detection of several soluble mediators (including interleukin-6, IL-6; macrophage migration inhibitory factor, MIF; selectin P, SELP; chemokine C-X-C motif ligand 10, CXCL10 and basigin, BSG) in the sera of SSc patients. Here, IL6 is linked to systemic sclerosis.