Parvovirus B19 infection of cultured skin fibroblasts from systemic sclerosis patients: comment on the article by Ray et al

We read with interest the recent article by Ray and coworkers reporting that human parvovirus B19 infection can induce in vitro invasive properties in normal human synovial fibroblasts . Their study further supports previous observations suggesting that B19 infection could be involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis and other rheumatic disorders, including systemic sclerosis (SSc) . SSc is a connective tissue disease of unknown etiology; its pathogenesis involves overproduction of collagen by altered fibroblasts and alterations of the microvasculature and immune system . Numerous genetic, environmental, and infectious agents have been proposed as possible etiologic factors