We observed a non-significant increase in the frequency of CD8+CD69+ T cells in lymphoid tissue of RA patients compared with HC (P=0.06) (Figure 1e), which is in line with our previous findings.31 In peripheral blood, we found an increase in CD8+CD45RO+CD69+ T cells in RA-risk individuals (P=0.04) and early RA patients (P=0.01) compared with HCs and an increase in CD8+CD45RA+CD69+ T cells in RA-risk individuals (P=0.003) compared with HCs (Figures 1f and g). The gene discussed is CD69; the disease is rheumatoid arthritis.