Zheng JN, Yang Li Y, Yan YM, et al. - Given that multiple organs are affected in systemic sclerosis (SSc) or scleroderma, researchers here investigated clinical associations of serum calpain activity and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) levels with immunological and clinical traits. Recruitment of a total of 31 patients with SSc, 20 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (HC), and 10 patients with other connective tissue diseases, was performed. Per outcomes, increased serum calpain activity and the correlation between calpain and HMGB1 were evident in patients with SSc or SSc-interstitial lung disease (ILD). This work was identified to be the first study reporting this finding. They suggest the possible value of serum calpain activity and HMGB1 levels as measures of ILD in cases with SSc. Also, calpain and HMGB1 are suggested as potential therapeutic targets for cases with SSc or SSc-ILD in the future.