Furthermore, gene expression profiling of peripheral blood cells from healthy controls and RA patients in a Dutch study (30) revealed a significant up-regulation of IFN responsive genes in a subgroup of RA patients and six of these genes (IFIT1, OAS2, MX1, IFI44L, OAS1, and MX2) were also found in our dataset of top 65 AIRE regulated genes in FLS. This evidence concerns the gene IFNA1 and rheumatoid arthritis.