TLR9 and systemic lupus erythematosus: Since SLE patients are more highly susceptible to infections, and we previously showed that EE exposure of autoimmune-prone NZB/WF1 mice reduced IFNα following in vitro TLR9 stimulation, here, we investigated the effects of chronic low-dose oral EE exposure on autoimmune disease and used TLR7 (Imiquimod) and TLR9 (ODN 2395) agonists as surrogates to mimic viral and bacterial infections in vivo.