In SLE, the promotion of IFN-α/β production is primarily controlled by IFN regulatory factors (IRFs) such as IRF-3, IRF-5, and IRF-7 (Baccala et al., 2007; Fu et al., 2011; Niewold et al., 2012; Ronnblom, Eloranta & Alm, 2006; Ronnblom & Pascual, 2008; Sigurdsson et al., 2005; Stone et al., 2012; Wang et al., 2013). This evidence concerns the gene IRF7 and systemic lupus erythematosus.