Proinflammatory cytokine gene expression for cytokines previously implicated in RA pathogenesis, namely TNFA, IL6, IL1B, and IL32, was significantly (P < 0.001) increased in PD-1+ B cells compared with PD-1– B cells while the immunomodulatory IL24 was significantly (P < 0.001) decreased (Figure 7C). Here, TNF is linked to rheumatoid arthritis.