TNFAIP2 and rheumatoid arthritis: 14 Interestingly, TNFAIP2 has been associated with rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune myocarditis in genome‐wide association studies (Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium, 2007; Kuan et al 1999). A recent study showed that miR‐221 alleviates the inflammatory response and cell apoptosis of neuronal cell through targeting TNFAIP2 in spinal cord ischemia‐reperfusion.29 Oxygen‐glucose deprivation induced the expression of TNFAIP2 mRNA and protein in neuron cells and TNFAIP2 is a direct target gene for miR‐221.29