However, in cultured RA-MDMs, the Spearman non-parametric correlation test showed a significant “strong” negative association between the increase of the CTLA4-Ig dosage and the downregulation of the gene expression of TLR4 after 3 and 12 h of treatment and CD86 after 3 h of treatment (TLR4 rho = − 0.73, p = 0.0002; CD86 rho = − 0.96, p < 0.0001 after 3 h; TLR4 rho = − 0.74; p = 0.004 after 12 h), whereas the gene expression of CD80 (after 3 and 12 h of treatment) and CD86 (after 12 h of treatment) showed a significant “moderate” association with CTLA4-Ig dosage. The gene discussed is CTLA4; the disease is rheumatoid arthritis.