In a murine model of SLE chronification of the immune response inducing IFNα production in immature Ly6Chigh monocytes can also be initiated by treatment with tetramehtylpentadecane (Lee et al., 2008) further supporting the hypothesis that the lack of induction of DCs with regulatory function is a major mechanisms of prolongation of exacerbated autoimmune responses in SLE patients. Here, IFNA1 is linked to systemic lupus erythematosus.