Most of the 68 upregulated genes were interferon regulated – including 17 IFI genes such as interferon-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats (IFIT) 1, 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase 1 (OAS1), 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase-like (OASL), interferon-stimulated gene, 15 kDa (ISG15), and interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7) that have been reported as overexpressed in the PBMCs of SLE. This evidence concerns the gene IRF7 and systemic lupus erythematosus.