A number of factors have been proposed as triggers of endothelial cell injury in SSc, including viruses (e.g., cytomegalovirus and Epstein Barr virus) (112, 113), cytotoxic CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells (114), autoantibodies against endothelial cells (115), and oxidative stress (116). The gene discussed is CD8A; the disease is systemic sclerosis.