As shown in Figure 2A, patients with SSc had significantly higher concentrations of activated TGF-β1 (mean = 2,334 ± 2,277 pg/ml, median = 1,883 pg/ml, range = 11,169 pg/ml) than the healthy controls (mean = 815 ± 375 pg/ml, median = 655 pg/ml, range = 870 pg/ml). This evidence concerns the gene TGFB1 and systemic sclerosis.