However, we further analyzed a possible effect of the variant IRF8 rs11117432 on IFIT1 and IFN-γ mRNA relative expression in the same 38 patients with SSc (nine of them with the IRF8 rs11117432 AA or GA genotypes and 29 with the GG genotype) and 24 controls (12 with the IRF8 rs11117432 AA or GA genotypes and 12 with the GG genotype) according to the published data on IRF8 effects on IFN signature. This evidence concerns the gene IRF8 and systemic sclerosis.