When the same analysis was extended to RAD51, a protein involved in DNA repair mechanisms [37], we found that, at the basal condition, SSc already showed a higher number of RAD51 foci per cell than healthy Hfbs (healthy vs. SSc: 0.5 ± 0.2 vs. 17.2 ± 4.2, p < 0.01) (Figure 2A). This evidence concerns the gene RAD51 and systemic sclerosis.