On the other hand, serum levels of IFNγ, the prototypic Th1 cytokine and slightly reduced in SLE, correlated directly in patients with the amount of Firmicutes and with the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio, this imbalance being the main feature of SLE dysbiosis and independent to disease duration, lifestyle and dietary-related factors39. This evidence concerns the gene IFNG and systemic lupus erythematosus.