Background

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterised by fibrosis of the skin and the internal organs. The aetiology is still unknown, but prominent features are vascular injury and chronic inflammation resulting in fibrosis. Accumulating evidence suggests a role for Toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated activation of dendritic cells (DC). Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a known cytoprotective enzyme induced in response to stress factors like oxygen radicals or inflammation, both of which …