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.