We cultured whole PBMCs from a subset of healthy control and SLE patients in the presence or absence of a TLR9 agonist (ODN2216), or a TLR7 agonist (ORN R2336), and measured the percentage of pDCs and LDGs producing IFNα, TNFα, IL-6 and/or IL-10. This evidence concerns the gene TNF and systemic lupus erythematosus.