In the SSc group, IGFBP-1 (p < 0.0001), TGF-β (p < 0.05), IL-8 (p < 0.05), YKL-40 (p < 0.0001) and MMP-7 (p < 0.01) levels in the supernatant of IS were increased compared to HV whereas no difference was found in the levels of IGFBP-2 and of MMP-9 (Fig. 1). The gene discussed is CXCL8; the disease is systemic sclerosis.