ACTA1 and systemic sclerosis: Moreover, the preliminary result of the ongoing human trial showed that the clinically available direct thrombin inhibitor, Dabigatran etexilate, is safe and effectively reduces α-SMA expression in lung and skin fibroblasts in systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease patients [30], indicating the therapeutic potential of PAR-1 antagonist for pulmonary fibrosis.