The CD14bright/CD56+ monocyte subset is already expanded early in the disease because RA patients with a disease duration of one year have 12.0% ± 1.8 CD14bright/CD56+ monocytes compared to 12.3% ± 1.1 CD14bright/CD56+ monocytes in patients with a longer disease duration (P = n.s.). The gene discussed is NCAM1; the disease is rheumatoid arthritis.