Its involvement in the pathogenesis of autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis has led to the development and broad clinical application of TNF-blocking agents, including the antibodies infliximab, adalimumab and golimumab and the soluble IgG1-TNFR2 fusion protein etanercept (20, 21). The gene discussed is TNFRSF1B; the disease is rheumatoid arthritis.