In order to address whether RNA and/or DNA from the apoptotic cells might be involved in the abnormal induction of TNF-α in SLE monocytes, monocytes from patients with lupus were co-incubated with apoptotic cells, in the absence or presence of RNase A, DNAse I, or both, and TNF-α production in the supernatants was determined. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is systemic lupus erythematosus.