IL17A and systemic sclerosis: As shown in Fig. 1A,B, sCD146 and IL17A concentrations were significantly higher in patients with SSc as compared to healthy controls (respectively, 329.0 ± 24.90 ng/ml versus 168.4 ± 19.39 ng/ml, p < 0, 0001 and 20.05 ± 1.97 ng/ml versus 3.32 ± 0.54 ng/ml, p < 0, 0001).