Mouse study shows the tiny natural particles reduced inflammation by Margarida Maia, PhD | October 21, 2025

Milk-derived extracellular vesicles — very small, natural particles from cow’s milk — were shown to safely reduce inflammation and scarring in a mouse model of systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Because these vesicles carry molecules that can protect and help tissue repair itself, they “have attracted much attention due to their high yield, easy availability, and high content, which endows them with great potential for clinical applications,” the researchers wrote.

The study, “Blockade of TGF-[beta]1/Smad3 signaling pathway by bovine milk-derived extracellular vesicles ameliorates skin fibrosis in systemic sclerosis mice,” was published in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications by scientists in China.
​
Scleroderma occurs when the immune system prompts the body to make an excess of collagen that thickens and hardens the skin and internal organs. In scleroderma, the connective tissue becomes stiffened and swollen.

Analysis: Protein markers and disease duration strongly predict MMF response
by Margarida Maia, PhD | October 14, 2025

In people with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc), certain skin features, including levels of specific molecules and cells, depend on disease duration, a study finds.

These features, combined with disease duration, allowed researchers to predict patients’ response to mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), an immunosuppressive therapy commonly used for dcSSc.

These findings suggest “skin biopsies may be useful for refining prognosis and guiding patient management decisions,” the researchers wrote.

​The study, “Skin biopsies enhance prediction of clinical trajectory in diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis,” was published in Arthritis & Rheumatology.

More than a third of patients saw progressive lung disease, study found by Margarida Maia, PhD | October 7, 2025

​More than a third of adults with systemic sclerosis (SSc) who develop interstitial lung disease (ILD) see their condition progress, and those who reported increasing shortness of breath in the past month had a higher risk of death — even if their breathing tests have not declined — an Australian study finds.

“This study has highlighted the prognostic importance of patient-reported symptoms in the evaluation of SSc-ILD,” the researchers wrote in “The prognostic importance of worsening dyspnoea in systemic sclerosis related interstitial lung disease,” which was published in Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism.
​
In SSc, the immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues, leading to the formation of fibrotic (scar) tissue. When this occurs in the lungs, it can appear as ILD, where the lung tissue becomes inflamed and stiff. This makes it harder for air to move in and out of the lungs, making it difficult to breathe.

Researchers say they could serve as biomarkers, preventive strategy targets
by Margarida Maia, PhD | September 30, 2025

​Researchers in China have identified five genes — COL1A2, COL3A1, COL15A1, THY-1, and CCL19 — that may play a key role in lung complications associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc), according to a study.

Using bioinformatics analyses of patient tissue samples, the team found that these genes were consistently overactive and linked to processes such as cell migration, biological adhesion, and collagen biosynthesis, which contribute to tissue scarring and increased blood pressure in the lungs.

Researchers suggest that these genes could serve as potential markers for early diagnosis and as targets for preventive or therapeutic strategies against SSc-associated lung disease.
​
The study, “Identification and validation of key genes commonly expressed and upregulated in systemic sclerosis-associated lung diseases through integrated analysis,” was published in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications.