Likewise, micronuclei formation strongly correlated with the activation of the cGAS-STING pathway [cGAS (r = 0.6095), IFNA1 (r = 0.7486), IFNB1 (r = 0.9562), IL6 (r = 0.5675)], supporting the idea that cytosolic surveillance of the abnormally located DNA in SSc activates the cGAS-STING pathway (Supplementary Fig. 13). Here, IFNA1 is linked to systemic sclerosis.