IL-22 is upregulated in a number of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, and the exact role of IL-22 appears to depend on specific inflammatory microenvironments: the protective role of IL-22 has been found in a myocarditis model, whereas the inflammatory role of IL-22 has been demonstrated in rheumatoid arthritis [34, 36]. The gene discussed is IL22; the disease is rheumatoid arthritis.