T-cell activation is accompanied by downregulation of CCR7 in lymphoid effector T cells to facilitate lymph-node egress.34 We found a decreased frequency of CD8+CCR7+ T cells in lymphoid tissue of early RA patients, which may reflect a shift towards more migratory effector CD8+ T cells leaving the lymph node to travel towards sites of inflammation. This evidence concerns the gene CD8A and rheumatoid arthritis.