Similarly, in the presence of IFN-α and GM-CSF, circulating monocytes should quickly differentiate into monocyte-derived dendritic cells (mDC), which are important antigen-presenting cells capable of phagocyting viruses and initiating the adaptive immune response process, as well as activating CD4+ T cells, generating immune memory in the process, and refining the body’s defense against infections (179, 180). Here, IFNA1 is linked to infection.