Compared to control rats, mRNA expression of RA autophagy-related core genes IFNG, CXCR4, CASP1, TNFSF10, CTSB and FAS were significantly elevated, while EGFR, MYC, MAPK8, FOXO1 and FOXO3 expression was reduced in the synovial tissues (P < 0.001) (Fig 11). Here, CXCR4 is linked to rheumatoid arthritis.