Reduced RUNX1 binding caused by intronic SNPs has been proposed to cause aberrant regulation of PDCD1 (the programmed cell death 1 gene) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus [46], and of SLC22A4 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis [47], [48]. This evidence concerns the gene SLC22A4 and systemic lupus erythematosus.