IFNA1 and atherosclerosis: Furthermore, in SLE patients with or without concomitant antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), the excessive oxidative stress, the apoptotic cell death and the defective clearance of apoptotic materials contribute to tissue damage, and dyslipidaemia can further accelerate atherogenesis.7, –9 The pivotal role of the type I interferon (IFN) system may also promote atherosclerosis, by a pro-inflammatory action on the endothelium and by stimulating macrophage recruitment to atherosclerotic lesions.10,11