Increased expression of aquaporin-1 in dermal fibroblasts and dermal microvascular endothelial cells possibly contributes to skin fibrosis and edema in patients with systemic sclerosis.

AQP1 is up-regulated in SSc dermal fibroblasts and SSc endothelial cells at least partially due to autocrine TGF-β stimulation and Fli1 deficiency, respectively, possibly contributing to inflammation, vasculopathy, and tissue fibrosis by regulating tissue edema and cell migration.