Although plasmacytoid dendritic cells are the primary source of type I IFNs in lupus patients, intrinsic renal cells such as mesangial cells and glomerular endothelial cells can also synthesize IFN-α following stimulation with viral components mediated through toll-like receptor dependent and independent pathways [82–84]. Here, IFNA1 is linked to systemic lupus erythematosus.