Recently, treatment with iguratimod, an anti-inflammatory small molecule drug approved in Japan for treatment of RA that lowers the production of various cytokines including TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-17, successfully alleviated tubulo-interstitial lesions and fibrosis using MRL/lpr mice. The gene discussed is IL1B; the disease is rheumatoid arthritis.