Since we have previously published that caspase-8 signaling in myeloid cells and DCs is critical to suppress systemic inflammation and caspase-8 has been linked to RA susceptibility, the role that cell-specific caspase-8 plays in the development of acute inflammation in young mice prior to overt development of autoimmune disease was evaluated using the K/BxN serum-transfer-induced arthritis model. This evidence concerns the gene CASP8 and arthritic joint disease.