Our study showed that with advancement of SSc, imbalance in ratio of proliferation and apoptosis in the epithelial and connective tissue cells gradually led to loss of surface and deep glands, defects of surface epithelial lining, increased accumulation of connective tissue collagen, vascular changes as well as decreased expression of syndecan-1 in the whole gastric mucosa. The gene discussed is SDC1; the disease is systemic sclerosis.