As far as DR3 is concerned (Fig. 1b), lung CD4+ T cells obtained from patients with active sarcoidosis expressed the receptor in a percentage significantly higher (33.2 % ± 7.1) with respect to pulmonary CD4+ T cells of patients with inactive sarcoidosis (15.4 % ± 5.3; p < 0.01 vs active disease), and controls (10.6 % ± 4.1; p < 0.01 vs active disease; ANOVA p < 0.01; Fig. 1b). Here, CD4 is linked to sarcoidosis.