Figure 2From: B-cell depletion therapy in patients with diffuse systemic sclerosis associates with a significant decrease in PDGFR expression and activation in spindle-like cells in the skinPlatelet-derived growth factor receptor expression and collagen deposition. Rituximab (RTX)-induced resolution of skin fibrosis associates with attenuation of platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) expression. RTX treatment mediates a significant decrease of (B) PDGFRα and (C) PDGFRβ expression on spindle-like cells in the papillary dermis, which associates with attenuation of collagen deposition (A). No change in both PDGFR expression and collagen deposition was found in Patients 4 and 6, indicating a strong link between PDGFR expression and fibrosis.Back to article page