RFX1 downregulation causes CD11a, CD70 and IL17A overexpression by reducing DNA methylation and increasing H3 acetylation levels in the promoter region of CD11a, CD70 and IL17A in the CD4+ T cells of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, which contributes to autoimmune responses (Zhao et al., 2010a; Zhao et al., 2018). The gene discussed is CD70; the disease is systemic lupus erythematosus.