IFIT3 and systemic lupus erythematosus: We confirmed that IFIT4 mRNA and protein were significantly increased in PBMCs from SLE patients and positively correlated with the presence of ANA, anti-dsDNA and anti-Sm/RNP antinucleoprotein autoantibodies, which indicates that a role of IFIT4 in the pathogenesis of SLE might be directly or indirectly associated with the production of autoantibodies.