International Journal of Molecular Sciences Article Impact of Human Cytomegalovirus and Human Herpesvirus 6 Infection on the Expression of Factors Associated with Cell Fibrosis and Apoptosis: Clues for Implication in Systemic Sclerosis Development Maria-Cristina Arcangeletti 1,*, Maria D’Accolti 2 , Clara Maccari 1, Irene Soffritti 2 , Flora De Conto 1, Carlo Chezzi 1, Adriana Calderaro 1, Clodoveo Ferri 3 and Elisabetta Caselli 2 1 Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Virology, University-Hospital of Parma, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy;
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[email protected]; Tel.: +39-0521-033497 Received: 29 July 2020; Accepted: 31 August 2020; Published: 3 September 2020 Abstract: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a severe autoimmune disorder characterized by vasculopathy and multi-organ fibrosis; its etiology and pathogenesis are still largely unknown. Herpesvirus infections, particularly by human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), have been suggested among triggers of the disease based on virological and immunological observations. However, the direct impact of HCMV and/or HHV-6 infection on cell fibrosis and apoptosis at the cell microenvironment level has not yet been clarified.