This study demonstrated that RA samples with either PTPN2:rs478582/PTPN22:rs2476601 heterozygous or minor alleles could potentially alter the PTPN2/22 gene or the protein activity of PTPN2/22 in T-cells, thus could possibly void the negative regulatory function of PTPN2/22. The gene discussed is PTPN22; the disease is rheumatoid arthritis.