Since all of these functions are of potential importance in the induction or maintenance or both of autoimmune disease, samples from the Arthritis and Rheumatism Council's repository of multicase rheumatoid arthritis families were typed for a dinucleotide repeat in the NRAMP1 promoter region and four other 2q34 (TNP1) or 2q35 (IL8R, VIL1, DES) marker genes.