Research in immunology and adjacent disciplines during recent years have given rise to many new concepts. The findings of new cytokines evoke hope for new treatment modalities, although the ideas have to be confirmed by trials involving human beings to settle what is right and what is wrong. Data and results are collected and published daily covering parts of the immunological network. Mitchison (Berlin) concluded that results of treatment be the judge of the importance of balances between cytokines with parasite infections, atopic and autoimmune diseases. In London Feldmann's group has done a phase I study of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and showed that monoclonal antibodies against Tumor Necrosis Factor (anti-TNF alpha) could improve all the investigated parameters; the data give evidence that the cytokine TNF is a central one. They found that in case of down regulation of TNF alpha this is followed by down regulation of interleukin (IL)-1, Granulocyte Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF), IL-6 and IL-8. The investigations continue in a mouse model to see if there is synergy of treatment of anti-TNF alpha and anti-CD4.