IFNA1 and autoimmune disease: In addition to the evidence obtained from the EAE models, several studies suggest an association between T-bet and relapses in MS and comparable autoimmune diseases, such as asthma, SLE, and systemic sclerosis.12,29,30 Furthermore, a reduction was shown in the expression level of T-bet in peripheral blood of improved patients with one year of IFN-В treatment.   31  These reports make TBX21 a potential candidate involved in MS development.