The importance of IKZF1 in human biology is illustrated by its pathogenic involvement in autoimmune disease (systemic lupus erythematosus) and haematopoietic malignancies (B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia), including blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasms (BPDCNs), characterised by the expression of pDC markers and CD56 on malignant cells24. The gene discussed is IKZF1; the disease is systemic lupus erythematosus.