Using a differential display reverse transcriptase–PCR approach, genes were identified whose expression was different in early inflammatory arthritis biopsies with a diagnosis of RA as opposed to reactive arthritis.54 This work primarily highlighted genes that were differentially expressed in T-cell synapse (LCK (lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase), nil2a (Zinc Finger E-box Binding Homeobox 1), T-plastin (plastin isoform T)), notably in relation with anergy, which is a feature of RA (reviewed in Gatzka and Walsh55). This evidence concerns the gene ZEB1 and rheumatoid arthritis.