To assess whether OAZ was linked to the cytokine disturbance that was a prominent phenomenon in SLE, we tested the secretion levels of two Th1 cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-12), two Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10) and one newly discovered Th17-related cytokine (IL-21). This evidence concerns the gene IL4 and systemic lupus erythematosus.