The crowded crossroad to angiogenesis in systemic sclerosis: where is the key to the problem?

In systemic sclerosis (SSc), peripheral vasculopathy is characterized by a progressive and irreversible loss of capillaries following endothelial cell injury, due to defects in both vascular repair and expected increase in new vessel growth (angiogenesis). The discovery of key molecular targets may help to develop the most effective therapeutic strategy for the SSc-related vasculopathy. A pathway worth targeting in SSc may include vascular endothelial growth factor, 165b isoform, an endogenous angiogenesis inhibitor abnormally expressed and released by different cell types, including activated endothelial cells and platelets.