The global mRNA expression pattern of α-SMA-positive SSc myofibroblasts isolated employing LCM from monolayer cell cultures derived from affected SSc skin identified 97 genes differentially expressed (greater than 1.5 fold with a p value of < 0.5) compared to the transcriptome of LCM captured α-SMA-negative SSc fibroblasts. This evidence concerns the gene ACTA1 and systemic sclerosis.