What Causes Scleroderma? |
| Author: Shelley Ensz. Scleroderma is highly variable. See Types of Scleroderma. Read Disclaimer |
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Overview of Causes of Scleroderma |
| The cause of scleroderma is generally unknown, however areas being investigated include autoimmunity, environmental exposures, genetics, and infections. Many researchers feel that several factors work together to induce scleroderma, such as a genetic inclination along with exposure to a toxin or infection which triggers the illness. (Also see: What is Scleroderma?, Types of Scleroderma, and Systemic Sclerosis) |
| Scleroderma is not believed to be contagious; you cannot get it by hugging or kissing someone or other intimate contact. |
| There is an increased incidence of certain types other autoimmune diseases and cancer among scleroderma patients. (Also see: Associated Conditions and Cancer and Scleroderma) |
| Prevention of autoimmune rheumatic disease: state of the art and future perspectives. The road map towards prevention of autoimmune rheumatic diseases includes increased understanding of how genes, environment and immunity interact. Klareskog L. (PubMed) Ann Rheum Dis. 2010 Dec. (Also see: Autoimmunity) |
Advanced Glycation Endproducts (AGES) |
| Noninvasive measurement of skin autofluorescence is increased in patients with systemic sclerosis: an indicator of increased advanced glycation endproducts? Autofluorescence is increased in patients with dcSSc compared to primary RP and to healthy controls. This suggests increased oxidative stress and the potential for autofluorescence as a biomarker. J Rheumatol. 2012 Aug;39(8):1654-8. |
Artificial Joints and Silicone Breast Implants |
| Causes of Scleroderma: Artificial Joints and Silicone Breast Implants. Are some cases of connective tissue disease, such as scleroderma, related to artificial joints or silicone breast implants? Contradictory findings continue to plague research into this area. ISN. |
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Autoimmunity |
| Causes of Scleroderma: Autoimmunity Scleroderma appears to be an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system attacks the body itself, causing an overproduction of collagen. ISN. |
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Autoimmunity: B Cells and T Cells |
| Autoimmunity: B Cells and T Cells. T Cells are white blood cells that help stimulate an immune response to infections. ISN. |
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Cluster Studies |
| Causes of Scleroderma: Cluster Studies Cluster studies can help pinpoint some of the causes of scleroderma. ISN. |
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Cytokines |
| Cytokines are small secreted proteins which mediate and regulate immunity, inflammation, and hematopoiesis. ISN. |
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Dendritic Cells |
| Dendritic cells are involved in the regulation of the body's immune system response, and are thought to be a key to preventing or treating autoimmune diseases. ISN. |
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Drugs and Medications |
| Causes of Scleroderma: Drugs and Medications Some medications and street drugs are known or thought to induce scleroderma or Raynaud's, such as Bleomycin, Cocaine, Marijuana, and Paclitaxel (Taxanes). ISN. |
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Endothelin |
| Endothelin and Systemic Scleroderma. Endothelin is a protein that helps to regulate contraction and relaxation of the smooth muscle found in the walls of blood vessels and internal organs (except the heart). ISN. |
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Environmental |
| Causes of Scleroderma: Environmental Topics covered include exposure to cadmium, mercury (dental amalgam), solvents (such as paint thinners), radiation, and silica as either known or suspected causes of autoimmune disease or scleroderma. ISN. |
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Fetal Cells and Scleroderma |
| Causes of Scleroderma: Fetal Cells Fetal cells as a cause of scleroderma is a hot topic of research and discussion lately. And since the topic is filled with intriguing possibilities, cutting-edge science, and unanswered questions, there is likewise some inescapable controversy. ISN. |
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Fibroblasts |
| Fibroblast. Fibroblasts are the most common cells of connective tissue. They produce the fibrous protein called collagen. "The major source of fibrosis in SSc is over production of collagens from fibroblasts."(2) ISN. |
Genetics and Scleroderma |
| Causes of Scleroderma: Genetics includes information on DNA, Familial CRST with Sicca Syndrome, Familial Progressive Systemic Sclerosis (FPSS), studies of twins, Choctaw genetic study, and human genome project. ISN. |
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Gluten Sensitivity |
| Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitivity. Gluten sensitivity is a known cause of dozens of autoimmune diseases, including Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Sjogren's syndrome, and scleroderma. ISN. |
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Hormones and Chromosomes |
| Hormones and Chromosomes have been found to attribute to the development of autoimmune diseases. This may explain why women are more susceptible to autoimmune diseases than men. ISN. |
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Infection |
| Causes of Scleroderma: Infections Researchers have long suspected an infection component may be involved as the trigger of some cases of scleroderma and there is an ongoing study about persistent infection as a possible cause of scleroderma. ISN. |
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Interleukins |
| Causes of Scleroderma: Interleukins Interleukin-10 gene is associated with scleroderma; interleukin-1 may upregulate scleroderma fibroblasts; interleukin-13 is associated with localized scleroderma. ISN. |
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Mercury Exposure (Dental Amalgam) |
| Causes of Scleroderma: Mercury Exposure (Dental Amalgam) covers recent research indicating that there may be a link between mercury exposure and autoimmune diseases. ISN. |
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Molecular Defect - TGF Dysregulation |
| Causes of Scleroderma: Molecular Defect in TGFbeta/SMAD may play a role in the development of scleroderma fibrosis. ISN. |
Natural Killer Cells |
| Natural killer cells are cells in the immune system that destroy cancer cells and virus-infected cells. ISN. |
Oxidative Stress, Lipid Peroxidation |
| Oxidative Stress is an imbalance between pro-oxidants and antioxidants that can result in cellular degeneration. ISN. |
Platelet Aggregation |
| Platelet aggregation is the clumping of platelets together, using fibrin (a protein involved in the clotting of blood) as the connecting agent. Widipedia. |
Proteins |
| Researchers implicate well-known protein in fibrosis. We now know that TLR4 plays a role in scleroderma, but much research remains to be done to develop safe and effective drugs to inhibit this pathway. EurekAlert, 11/20/12. |
| Researchers identify molecular gatekeeper of arthritis. The protein, researchers noted, determines the fate of damaging cells that mistakenly attack the body's own tissues and lead to autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. The finding could help researchers explore new types of treatments for patients whose arthritis has not been effectively treated by other means. OrthoSuperSite. 09/10/10. |
Radiation |
| Radiation and Scleroderma. There is an increased rate of cancer among scleroderma patients. ISN. |
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Serum TIMP-2 |
| Serum Levels of Tissue Inhibitors of Metalloproteinase 2 in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis (SSc). This study confirms the probable role of TIMP-2 in inducing fibrosis in the course of SSc, and suggests a possible role of TIMP-2 in the development of pulmonary involvement in diffuse scleroderma (dSSc) patients, and cardiac lesions in limited scleroderma (lSSc) patients, with disease duration equal to or more than 2 years. Amira Shahin. (PubMed) Mediators Inflamm. 2006; 2006(6): 38458. |
Serum sCD40 |
| Increased Serum Soluble CD40 Levels in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis. Elevated serum sCD40 levels were associated with lcSSc. These results suggest that the blockade of CD40/CD40 ligand interaction could be a potential therapeutic strategy in SSc. J Rheumatol 2007 February;34:353–8. (Also see: Limited Scleroderma) |
Silica |
| Causes of Scleroderma: Silica. Silica exposure can cause autoimmune diseases such as lupus, scleroderma, and vasculitis. ISN. (Also see: Causes of Scleroderma: Silicone Breast Implants) |
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Sleep Disorders |
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Stress |
| Stress can cause hormonal and cellular changes in our bodies which can lead to a variety of medical problems. ISN. |
Tissue Kallikrein (t-kallikrein) |
| Increased circulating levels of tissue kallikrein in systemic sclerosis correlate with microvascular involvement. T-kallikrein levels are increased in patients with SSc, particularly in lSSc, and are associated with early and active capillaroscopic patterns. T-kallikrein may play a part in SSc microvascular changes. PubMed. Ann Rheum Dis. 2005 Mar;64(3):382-7. (Also see: Raynaud's) |
Thyroid |
| Thyroid Disease. It is common for people to develop thyroid diseases, such as hyperthyroidism (hyper means "too much") and hypothyroidism (hypo means "too little.) ISN. |
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Vitamin D Deficiency |
| Vitamin D 's major biological function is to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. ISN. |
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Footnotes |
| (1) Medscape requires (free) sign up and password. You do not need to be a medical professional to use Medscape. However this makes for slower access to the site for first-time users. |
| (2) Xiong M, Arnett FC, Guo X, Xiong H, Zhou X (2008) Differential Dynamic Properties of Scleroderma Fibroblasts in Response to Perturbation of Environmental Stimuli. PLoS ONE 3(2): e1693. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0001693. |
