Advances in Systemic Sclerosis: From Pathogenetic Pathways toward Novel Therapeutic Targets

Dear Colleagues,

We are very glad to announce a Special Issue entitled "Advances in Systemic Sclerosis: From Pathogenetic Pathways toward Novel Therapeutic Targets" that is being prepared for Life.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc, or scleroderma) is a complex multifaceted connective tissue disease identified by early microvascular involvement, perivascular tissue inflammation and autoimmune reactions evolving into progressive fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. Microangiopathy clinically presents as Raynaud’s phenomenon, abnormal nailfold capillaries, digital ulcers, pulmonary arterial hypertension and scleroderma renal crisis, and together with myofibroblast-orchestrated untreatable fibrosis, often leading to organ failure, accounting for the high disease morbidity and mortality.

In recent years, there have been substantial advances in our understanding of SSc pathogenesis, especially in deciphering the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying endothelial cell damage, uncontrolled fibroblast activation and dysfunctional immune response. Compelling evidence also suggests the existence of common pathways bridging SSc-related vasculopathy, tissue fibrosis and immune system abnormalities. Hence, expanding our knowledge on the molecular signatures underlying the development and progression of SSc is crucial to gain insights into their potential clinical relevance as novel biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets.

Outstanding experts interested in this Special Issue are invited to submit original manuscripts and reviews dealing with any of the abovementioned aspects of SSc.

Dr. Eloisa Romano
Dr. Irene Rosa
Dr. Mirko Manetti
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.