Transcriptomic skin niches in systemic sclerosis underpin a role for mitochondrial dysfunction
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by fibrosis, vasculopathy and immune dysregulation. Using spatial transcriptomics on the dermis of 11 patients with SSc, we identified distinct transcriptomic niches associated with fibrosis, immune activation and mitochondrial dysfunction. Our findings highlight mitochondrial dysfunction as a central mechanism in SSc pathogenesis, ranging from adaptive remodelling in immune zones to metabolic collapse in fibrotic zones, underscoring mitochondria as a therapeutic target.
Authors
- Robert Gniadecki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2310-8300)
- Dylan Hennessey (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7983-8524)
- Lamia Khan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5157-2207)
- Junqin Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1017-5203)
- Mohammed Osman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3580-6074)
- Desiree Redmond (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9379-051X)
- Sandra O’Keefe
- Aishwarya Iyer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7370-2378)
Institutions
- University of Alberta (CA)
- University of Alberta Hospital (CA)
Publication Details
- Journal
- British Journal of Dermatology
- Published
- 2025-04-02
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1093/bjd/ljaf119
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Systemic Sclerosis and Related Diseases
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.47
Funders
- Canadian Dermatology Foundation
- National Scleroderma Foundation
- Arthritis Society
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
- Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis