This unbiased research uncovered several parallel changes that occur in joint draining lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes of RA patients and TNF-tg mice, and have been broadly characterized by an initial “expansion” phase of mild disease with lymphangiogenesis and enlargement of efferent lymph nodes, followed by loss of efferent lymphatics, “collapse” of the joint draining lymph nodes and exacerbated synovitis and joint erosion at end-stage disease (8, 51). The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is rheumatoid arthritis.