As expected, the proteolysis (Figures 1F, G) and nuclear translocation (Figure 1H) of ATF6α was triggered by inflammatory factor; however, all these events were blocked when RA FLSs were pre-treated with protease inhibitor, 4-(2-aminoethyl) benzenesulfonyl fluoride (AEBSF), which protects ATF6α against proteolysis. This evidence concerns the gene ATF6 and rheumatoid arthritis.