FOXP3 and systemic sclerosis: In FACS analysis, CD4+CD25+Foxp3+CD127- Treg cells were significantly elevated in patients with early dcSSc (p < 0.05) and in patients with anti-Scl-70/RNA-Pol-III autoantibody positivity (p < 0.05) and with lung fibrosis (p < 0.05).A significantly lower proportion of IL-10 producing Tregs was found in SSc (p < 0.05) compared to HC.Increased CD62L+ Treg cells were present in SSc compared to HC (p < 0.05).A decreased frequency of TGF-β producing CD62L+ Tregs was found in SSc compared to HC (p < 0.05).