The expression of IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), TGF-β1, and interferon (IFN)-γ was significantly up-regulated in the skin and lungs of BLM-SSc mice compared with PBS-treated control mice (Fig. 6a, b, Supplementary Fig. 6), as previously reported10. This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and systemic sclerosis.