Likewise, the production of IFN-α and TNF-α by pDCs upon TLR-7 stimulation with imiquimod was decreased in SLE subjects (4% ± 0.6 and 4.4% ± 0.6, respectively) compared to healthy controls (7.2% ± 2.5 and 8.6% ± 1.4, respectively). Here, TNF is linked to systemic lupus erythematosus.