IFITM3 and systemic lupus erythematosus: Nine of the IFN-I-related genes, including IFI35, IFIT1, IFIT3, IFITM2, IFITM3, IFNGR2, myxovirus (influenza) resistance 1 (MX1), OAS1 and STAT1, showed a stepwise increase from NC to SLE LN− to SLE LN+, although the difference between SLE LN− and SLE LN+ on these genes (except MX1) was not statistically significant (Fig. 4b), suggesting that the dysregulation of IFN pathway genes may play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE.