MMP3 and rheumatoid arthritis: To verify the relationship between NFIL3 and hub genes, we analyzed eight hub genes (IL-6, IL1β, CXCL8, CCL2, PTGS2, MMP3, MMP1, and FOS) and NFIL3 expression in PBMCs from 40 out of 62 newly diagnosed RA patients using qRT-PCR.