In agreement with the eQTL data, RT-qPCR data showed that the SLE risk allele T reduced the expression of AC092723.1 and IRF8 compared with the non-risk allele C (Fig. 5B, C), consistent with the down-regulated expression of IRF8 and AC092723.1 in SLE patients (Supplementary Fig. 8E–I). Here, IRF8 is linked to systemic lupus erythematosus.