MAP4K3 repression of autophagy may also contribute to the development of autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus, as autoimmune disease patients exhibit elevated expression of MAP4K342, and k.o. of MAP4K3 in mice protects against experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis8, a series of findings that are reminiscent of the association between a Atg16L variant yielding impaired autophagy function and increased risk for Crohn’s disease in humans43. The gene discussed is ATG16L1; the disease is systemic lupus erythematosus.