CpG DNA induced IFN-α production was markedly reduced in PBMCs from SLE patients as compared with PBMCs from healthy control individuals (342.46 ± 636.82 pg/ml in SLE patients versus 1610.35 ± 759.56 pg/ml in healthy control individuals; P < 0.001; Figure 1b). This evidence concerns the gene IFNA1 and systemic lupus erythematosus.