If this is also the situation in humans, then the measurement of pMo numbers in the blood might be a useful diagnostic indication of those at risk of developing lupus, such as the siblings of lupus patients or humans with polymorphisms in genes known to predispose to lupus, allowing early intervention with IRAK4 and/or IRAK1 inhibitors to prevent the onset of the disease. Here, IRAK4 is linked to systemic lupus erythematosus.