Proposed mechanisms by which TLR7 activation may contribute to SLE include through stimulating type I interferon production, expansion and plasma cell differentiation of autoreactive double-negative B cells, germinal center formation, and enhancing production of autoantibodies to RNA-containing antigens (Christensen et al., 2006; Subramanian et al., 2006; Lee et al., 2008; Jenks et al., 2018). Here, TLR7 is linked to systemic lupus erythematosus.