Table 1

Indications for a pathogenic role for CD4⁺ T cells in rheumatoid inflammation

Association of rheumatoid arthritis with HLA-DR4 and HLA-DR1 subtypes (shared epitope)

Enrichment of activated CD4⁺ memory T cells in peripheral blood, synovial membrane, and synovial fluid

Important role in disease initiation in several animal models of inflammatory arthritis

Clinical efficacy of appropriate T-cell directed therapies

Skapenko et al. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2005 7(Suppl 2):S4   doi:10.1186/ar1703