An integrated miRNA-mRNA association analysis using circulating monocytes from MDA5+ DM patients identified ILD, IFNβ, TLR3, TLR7, TLR9, and the Spi-1 proto-oncogene encoding PU.1 (a transcription factor regulating the differentiation of monocytes), as upstream regulators of MDA5+ DM (78). Here, SPI1 is linked to dermatomyositis.