The inflamed and arthritic joint synovium of RA patients is characterized by CD4+ T cell infiltration and the accumulation of neo-cit-epitopes originating from extracellular matrix proteins such as type II collagen (18), fibrinogen (19), tenascin-C (TNC) (20, 21), cartilage intermediate layer protein (CILP) (22), as well as cell-associated components including vimentin (22, 23) and α-enolase (24). This evidence concerns the gene CD4 and rheumatoid arthritis.