IRF5 and rheumatoid arthritis: From these studies and given the fact that in humans IRF5 gene polymorphisms related to higher IRF5 expression 10, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 have been associated with susceptibility to inflammatory and autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), inflammatory bowel disease, SLE, MS, and Sjörgens syndrome, IRF5 has emerged as an attractive target for therapeutic intervention.