In particular, a TLR3 ligand, polyinosine-polycytidylic acid (poly IC), and a TLR4 ligand, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were found to be very effective in activating RACs, leading to the production of cytokines of both the Th1- and Th17-types that induce uveitis in naïve mice, whereas a TLR2 ligand, BLP, also called Pam3CSK4, was much less active. The gene discussed is TLR4; the disease is uveitis.