Thus, presence of the Atg5 T* allele in combination with the high IL-10 genotype was associated with the highest IL-10 levels, reduced production of IFNα and TNFα and the lowest frequency of hematological and renal disorder, whereas carriers of the same mutation but in the presence of the low IL-10 genotype showed lower levels of all the studied cytokines, less frequency of anti-dsDNA antibodies and delayed onset of the disease, in accordance with the lower frequency of this genotype in SLE patients. Here, TNF is linked to systemic lupus erythematosus.