Previous studies demonstrated that artesunate not only downregulated the mRNA and protein expressions of PI3K, AKT and mTOR, but also inhibited phosphorylation of these proteins in the cartilage tissue of RA mice and chondrocytes in vitro (18), while dihydroartemisinin suppressed phosphorylation of mTOR and S6K in human mesangial cells in the presence of IgA1 stimulation (63). The gene discussed is MTOR; the disease is rheumatoid arthritis.