CCN2 and systemic sclerosis: Similarly, SSc derived PBMCs showed a significant increase of mRNA expression of IL-17A and pro-fibrotic cytokines FGF2, TGFβ, CTGF compared to healthy subjects to 2.5-fold, 2.38-fold, 1.4- fold, 1.62-fold (p<0.01) relative mRNA, respectively.