The "core" signature of IFNα identified in our in vitro and in vivo experiments also included BAFF, a gene showing a crucial role in B cell maturation and activity, reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, such as Rheumatoid arthritis, SLE and Progressive Systemic Sclerosis in mouse models as well as in humans [38]. Here, IFNA1 is linked to systemic sclerosis.