Consistent with the role of TLR7 in IFN production and previous reports which showed increases in ISG signature in TLR7 rs3853839 G-risk allele carriers (22, 24), the expression of ISGs (combined IFN scores) were higher in the SLE TLR7hi group, as compared to TLR7norm/lo SLE and HCs. Here, TLR7 is linked to systemic lupus erythematosus.