Based on the common pathway theory, the shared AFgenes with influenza (CCL2, IL18, IL1B, IL6, MX1, NFKB1, RAF1, STAT1, TMPRSS2, and TNF), RA (CCL2, IL18, IL1B, IL6, MMP3, TGFB1, and TNF), and IBD (IL10, IL18, IL1B, IL6, NFKB1, NOD2, STAT1, STAT3, TGFB1, and TNF) may serve as entry points for future research on disease comorbidity mechanisms. Here, MMP3 is linked to rheumatoid arthritis.