ATG7 and systemic lupus erythematosus: Moreover, polymorphisms in IRGM have been linked to the multifactorial autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (Zhou et al., 2011b), as have polymorphisms in Atg5 and Atg7 (Harley et al., 2008; Gateva et al., 2009; Han et al., 2009; Zhou et al., 2011b).