The bromodomain and extra terminal domain (BET) family of proteins, including BRD4, regulates the transcription of multiple proinflammatory and immunoregulatory genes. BRD4 is involved in immune-related disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Previous studies reported that cellular communication network factor 1 (CCN1) is overexpressed in the endothelial cells and synovial tissue of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). French researchers have now investigated the effects of inhibiting CCN1 in two murine models of RA with the aim of proposing CCN1 as a potential therapeutic target in RA.