Persistent IC-mediated stimulation of TLR7 and TLR9 in pDCs is suspected to be one of the primary mechanisms whereby pDCs release IFN-I and contribute to SLE disease progression (Ronnblom & Alm, 2001; Swiecki & Colonna, 2010; Ganguly et al, 2013). This evidence concerns the gene TLR9 and systemic lupus erythematosus.