It was reported that dermal fibroblasts from SSc patients and TGF-β-stimulated fibroblasts showed increased expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins, while transfection with a miRNA-29a mimic reduced expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL and restored sensitivity of SSc dermal fibroblasts to apoptosis (113). This evidence concerns the gene BCL2L1 and systemic sclerosis.