In the DBA/1 mouse model of collagen-induced arthritis, adiponectin treatment significantly alleviated the severity of arthritis together with a decrease in the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-1, and the reduction of metalloproteinase (MMP)-3 in synovial tissues (Lee et al., 2008). This evidence concerns the gene IL1B and arthritic joint disease.