Systems biology approaches to understanding the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis

Abstract

Genome-wide transcriptional profiling and genome-wide association studies of SSc skin have provided a wealth of information that can be integrated comprehensively to increase our understanding of SSc pathophysiology. These approaches measure and quantify SSc heterogeneity on the molecular level using unbiased genome-wide measurements. Concurrently, powerful systems biology tools have been developed that collate and analyze the tens of thousands of publicly available data sets and integrate these data with our comprehensive body of biological knowledge, thus providing an interpretive framework to understand these results. Systems biology analyses of SSc are allowing us to build a comprehensive picture of pathogenesis and progression that will result in the identification of novel therapeutic targets.