On this line, a sound body of evidence considers that an excess of MMP-7 may serve as a marker for pulmonary impairment and progressive disease in SSc patients (Györfi et al. 2024; Chen and Chen 2020; Bonhomme et al. 2019; Moinzadeh et al. 2011), further supporting our results. The gene discussed is MMP7; the disease is systemic sclerosis.