IRF4 and systemic lupus erythematosus: Murine studies have demonstrated that ROCK2 is activated in Th17 cells and phosphorylates interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF-4), thus regulating the production of interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-21, two cytokines known to contribute to the pathogenesis of lupus (Biswas et al., 2010).