Our findings revealed that MDA-5 was upregulated in SLE-M, but not SLE-F placentas in association with enrichment of MDA-5 [melanoma differentiation-associated gene-5, gene name: IFIH1 (interferon induced with helicase C domain 1)] signaling pathway only in SLE-M, but not SLE-F placentas. Here, IFIH1 is linked to systemic lupus erythematosus.