Ribosomal Depleted Total RNA-Seq of PBMCs and Skin from Controls and Systemic Sclerosis Patients

This study involved prospective collection of skin biopsies and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples from controls with no self-reported history of autoimmune or inflammatory disease and cases with Rheumatologist-confirmed systemic sclerosis: limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis (lcSSc), diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc), very early diagnosis of systemic sclerosis (VEDOSS), and systemic sclerosis sine scleroderma (SSS). Some SSc cases were sampled at a 6 month routine follow-up visit. PBMCs were collected and lysed immediately. Skin punches were stabilized in RNAlater until extraction. All RNA-Seq libraries were created using Takara/Clontech ribosomal depletion kits, and sequenced on either a HiSeq2500 or HiSeq3000.