Further analysis showed that IL-6, which is also defined as a Th17-inducing cytokine (20) due to its role in the regulation of Th17 differentiation (45), was necessary for promoting Th17 differentiation and IL-17 production by activated basophils in patients with SLE, as further confirmed by our observation that basophils obtained from patients with SLE and aged MRL-lpr/lpr mice both exhibited a higher expression of IL-6. This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and systemic lupus erythematosus.