In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), IL-17-producing Th17 cells reportedly induce local inflammation by stimulating production of IL-6, IL-1, TNFα and chemokines, and IL-17 may directly stimulate synovial fibroblasts to induce RANKL expression, which in turn, results in bone destruction39. This evidence concerns the gene TNFSF11 and rheumatoid arthritis.