IFNB1 and systemic lupus erythematosus: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) frequently have aberrant expression of genes that are stimulated by type 1 interferons (IFN-α, IFN-β, IFN-ω, IFN-τ; IFN-I), a family of pluripotent cytokines that are important for antiviral immune response, and this expression profile is correlated with anti-dsDNA antibody levels and disease severity (1, 2).