Interestingly, IL-1β + TNF stimulation of RA FLS did not induce IFNγ mRNA (RNA seq data set) or secretion of IFNγ to the supernatant of the cell cultures (assessed by ELISA, data not shown) suggesting that AIRE induces the interferon signature independent of IFNγ. This evidence concerns the gene IL1B and rheumatoid arthritis.