ZFP36L2 and autoimmune disease: Because ZFP36L2 is involved in hematopoietic stem cell differentiation and in thymopoiesis, it is not surprising that ZFP36L2 seems to be involved in the development of human autoimmune diseases, particularly in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) where ZFP36L2 was found to be significantly downregulated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of SLE patients in comparison to healthy individuals (19).