Further, activity of regulatory T cells (Tregs) was shown to be suppressed by the in vitro treatment of dendritic cells with IFN-α [39] and the increased levels of IFN-α in lupus patients was reported to contribute, at least in part, to the diminished Tregs activity observed in patients with SLE [40]. The gene discussed is IFNA1; the disease is systemic lupus erythematosus.