The processes inhibiting activation induced cell death seen in arthritic, anti-CD3/CD28-stimulated T cells are probably not initiated in the non-stimulated samples because expression of FLIP increases only after signaling through the T cell receptor [67] and the strength of signaling, the level of co-stimulation and the activation levels of signaling molecules are different after in vitro (anti-CD3/CD28 stimulation) and in vivo (immunization during arthritis induction) stimulation. The gene discussed is CD28; the disease is arthritic joint disease.