The pathogenicity of Hps in the animal model, the ability of the Hps epitope VtaA10755−766 to stimulate the same T-cell clonotypes that react to Coll261−273, the presence of Hps DNA in the crevicular fluid of most RA patients (and in the synovial tissues and fluids), and the presence of both IgM and IgG antibodies to the collagen domains of VtaA10 prove Witebsky's revised criteria for autoimmune diseases (66). This evidence concerns the gene CD40LG and autoimmune disease.