Interestingly, the mice that received anti-IFN-γ + anti-IL-4 had similar levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 but lower levels of IL-17 in their paws even though they had more severe arthritis, suggesting that joints may be more sensitive to Th17-mediated inflammation in the absence of systemic protective Th1 and Th2 responses. This evidence concerns the gene IFNG and arthritic joint disease.