Moreover, mice deficient in different engulfment genes or DNase II, which is required for the proper degradation of dying cell-derived DNA, reveal an accumulation of dying cell debris and develop a late-onset autoimmune phenotype, including the typical interferon (IFN) signature, closely resembling human SLE (Botto, 1998; Le et al., 2001; Cohen et al., 2002; Hanayama et al., 2006; Kawane et al., 2006). This evidence concerns the gene IFNA1 and systemic lupus erythematosus.