As compared to the HC exosomes, the SLE exosomes induced PBMCs to produce significantly more IFN-α (median (IQR), pg/mL: 0.00 (0.00–0.00) vs. 22.34 (0.00–120.9), respectively; p = 0.004), TNF-α (median (IQR), pg/mL: 0.00 (0.00–5.00) vs. 97.47 (53.17–294.9), respectively; p = 0.023), IL-1β (median (IQR), pg/mL: 7.10 (0.00–44.52) vs. 97.24 (40.20–215.2), respectively; p = 0.013), and IL-6 (median (IQR), pg/mL: 1259 (802.5–1669) vs. 3596 (1790–7352), respectively; p = 0.002) (Fig. 2a). The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is systemic lupus erythematosus.