IL6 and rheumatoid arthritis: On the other hand, IL-6 gene expression was not modified in e-RA as compared with healthy groups (1.43 ± 0.9 vs. 1 ± 0.4 healthy, p = ns), but TOFA exerted a decrease in mRNA levels of this cytokine (0.09 ± 0.038 vs. 1.43 ± 0.9 e-RA, p < 0.01) (Figure 4A).