The significantly increased BAFF-R, TACI and TLR9 B cell gene expression levels observed in established RA patients under MTX treatment when compared to ERA and controls support a relevant role of BAFF and T-cell independent mechanisms in B cell activation, particularly at later stages of RA development [4, 6, 63, 64]. This evidence concerns the gene TNFRSF13B and rheumatoid arthritis.