We next investigated whether cytokines known to play key roles in the pathogenesis of RA and to have the capacity to activate SF, namely TNFα, IL-1β and IL-17A, and IFNγ, which we found in highest concentrations in ThCM, are known to play a role in the pathogenesis of RA or other rheumatic diseases, alone or in combination, are able to induce the production of lactate by SF. Here, IL1B is linked to rheumatoid arthritis.