To further investigate the mechanisms of antirheumatic drug actions, we analyzed changes in clinical, immunological, and radiological indices and gene expression in the above non-tissue specific regulatory genes, proteases, and cytokines TNFα, IL-1β, COX2, and IFNα in peripheral blood from RA patients before and after one cycle of RTX therapy compared to healthy subjects. The gene discussed is IL1B; the disease is rheumatoid arthritis.