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Impaired wound healing and skin dehydration are the mainstay of systemic sclerosis (SSc) cutaneous manifestations. Aquaporin‐3 (AQP3) has a pivotal role in skin hydration and wound healing. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation is impaired in SSc fibroblasts. It is unclear whether AQP3 downregulation or epidermal growth factor (EGF) signaling are the primary points of dysregulation in SSc patients.

Skin punch biopsies were obtained from 10 SSc patients and 10 healthy subjects. The mRNA and/or protein expression levels of AQP3, EGFR/p‐EGFR, matrix metalloproteinase‐1/2/9 (MMP‐1/2/9), and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase‐1 (TIMP1) at baseline and after EGF and transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) treatment was evaluated in extracted fibroblasts using real‐time polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis.

SSc fibroblasts expressed lower …