IL6 and systemic sclerosis: Notably, B cells play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of SSc by producing cytokines such as IL-6 and TGF-β (25, 26), engaging in self-activation with T cells (27), stimulating fibroblasts (28), and contributing to endothelial cell activation and injury (29, 30), among other pathways, which ultimately lead to the inflammatory and fibrotic phenotypic manifestations of SSc.