Given the mechanistic rationale for the role of IL-6 signaling in T1D and that other effective rheumatoid arthritis drugs (abatacept and TNF-α blockers) have shown benefit in T1D, we hypothesized that blockade of the IL-6 pathway with tocilizumab would lead to clinical improvements in T1D (4, 10). The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is type 1 diabetes mellitus.