Zhu et al. (2016) combined DNA methylation analysis and whole‐genome transcription of PBMCs to identify epigenetic biomarkers for SLE, and demonstrated the effects of DNA methylation on differential genes involved in IFN, TLR signaling pathways, and inflammatory cytokines, suggesting aberrant DNA methylation may be relevant to the pathogenesis of SLE. This evidence concerns the gene IFNA1 and systemic lupus erythematosus.