In terms of its function, IL-24 possesses several major activities: It causes cancer-specific cell death when expressed at supra-physiologic levels; it exerts autoimmunity effects (psoriasis and other autoimmune disorders including rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthropathy, and inflammatory bowel disease); it suppresses keratinocyte proliferation during wound healing; it exerts a protective effect in cardiovascular disease and in bacterial infections. The gene discussed is IL24; the disease is rheumatoid arthritis.