TNF and rheumatoid arthritis: TNFα gene expression was diminished in both e-RA and e-RA+TOFA groups compared with healthy groups (0.5 ± 0.08 e-RA vs. 0.51 ± 0.08 e-RA+TOFA vs. 1 ± 0.09 healthy, p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively, vs. healthy) (Figure 4A).