Figure 2.

Proposed mechanisms for the role of IL-17A in SSc in mice and humans. In murine models, IL-17A is pro-fibrotic by promoting fibroblast proliferation and inducing synthesis of collagen and CTGF. In humans, IL-17A was reported to induce pro-inflammatory cytokines while inhibit collagen and CTGF synthesis, exerting a dual pro-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic role. IL-17A is also related with vasculopathy by promoting endothelial inflammation and smooth muscle cells proliferation, migration and collagen synthesis.