Taking advantage of the capability of molecular analysis of sodA to identify Mycobacterium species, as well as the ability of sodA to generate strong immune responses, we conducted molecular analysis for the presence of Mycobacterium sodA in sarcoidosis granulomas, followed by immunologic assessment for Th-1 immune responses to sodA peptides in the same sarcoidosis subjects. Here, NELFCD is linked to sarcoidosis.