In a previous study, we found that carriers of the combined genotype high TNFα/low IL-10 have the highest risk factor for developing SLE and producing antibodies to the SSa antigen [10], suggesting that interactions between IL-10 and TNFα cytokine genes may influence susceptibility to SLE, its phenotype and possibly the clinical response to disease modifying antirheumatic drugs. Here, TNF is linked to systemic lupus erythematosus.