In addition, we reported for the first time, that EPC and pre-EPC populations were significantly reduced in patients with low IFNα serum levels, whereas higher levels of this cytokine were associated with higher counts of EPC populations, which leads to an increase in the mEPC/EPC ratio, in a similar way to the results observed in SLE [24]. This evidence concerns the gene IFNA1 and systemic lupus erythematosus.