Since some cytokines, such as IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and INF-γ, were contributed to the pathology of RA [16], we analyzed the relationship between hsa_circ_0140271 expression level in PBMC and those cytokines or clinical features of 31 female RA patients (Table 3). The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is rheumatoid arthritis.