In agreement with studies in patients with systemiclupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis,rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune vasculitis,we confirmed a reduced number of CD4+CD25+highT cells in the peripheral blood of our patients.High expressions of CD25 and CD4 surface markershave classically been used for identification ofregulatory T cells. The gene discussed is CD4; the disease is rheumatoid arthritis.