Methods for the treatment or prevention of systemic sclerosis

Abstract

The disclosure is in the field of molecular immunology, more in particular, in the field of the prevention or treatment of autoimmune diseases, more in particular, systemic sclerosis or scleroderma. The disclosure is based on the observation that SSC patients have an elevated plasma level of CXCL4. This was found to contribute to the pathogenesis of SSc, in particular, fibrosis. When CXCL4 was neutralized in in vitro experiments, the fibrotic effects could be neutralized. This led us to conclude that SSc may be cured by reducing the plasma level of CXCL4. The disclosure, therefore, relates to a method for treatment or prevention of fibrosis in patients with scleroderma, wherein the plasma level of CXCL4 is reduced.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method for treating a subject diagnosed as suffering from diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis, the method comprising:
 depleting plasmacytoid dendritic cells in the subject, thereby treating diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis in the subject.