A significant increase (p ≤ 0.05) in the number of CD8+ T cells expressing surface TLR4 (RA: 44.00 ± 6.4% vs HC: 19.78 ± 5.3%), Granzyme B (RA: 16.83 ± 2.6% vs HC: 5.4 ± 3.06%), Perforin (RA: 19.60 ± 2.2% vs HC: 3.31 ± 3.27%) and IFNγ (22.53 ± 2.9% vs HC: 0.14 ± 0.04%) was observed, post stimulation with LPS, in RA patients in comparison to those from healthy individuals (Fig. 4f and Supplementary Fig. 4). This evidence concerns the gene GZMB and rheumatoid arthritis.