Thus, particularly in DM, with induction of intramuscular endothelial damage (vascular rarefaction) and activation (increased endothelial CXCR6), the endothelial repair machinery is activated but severely affected (CXCL16 elevation, lower eEPC colony formation, constant serum VEGF and Ang-1, and constant endothelial nestin). Here, CXCL16 is linked to dermatomyositis.