These findings are strengthened by Deng et al. who found that while ECFCs isolated from patients with SLE are highly activated and have elevated expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) compared to control subjects, they are impaired in their basic physiological function (77). This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and systemic lupus erythematosus.