A study found that serum and tissue levels of C-C motif chemokine 2 (CCL2; also known as MCP1), CCL3 (also known as MIP1α), IL-8 and CCL18 are increased in SSc patients and correlate with disease severity and progression (Hasegawa et al., 2013). The gene discussed is CXCL8; the disease is systemic sclerosis.