Estrogen has been found to affect the expression of inflammatory mediators, such as interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (Shivers et al., 2015), all of which were reported to play decisive roles in the pathogenesis of RA (Malemud, 2013). The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is rheumatoid arthritis.