ATG5 and systemic lupus erythematosus: The PRDM1 gene encodes a protein (BLIMP-1) that is an essential modulator of dendritic cell function and a repressor of the interferon β gene.52 Although BLIMP-1 drives B cells into antibody secreting cells,53 its expression in peripheral blood B cells appears to be low and is not affected by genetic variants.54 In addition, variants in the intergenic region between the PRDM1 and ATG5 genes are associated with risk for SLE.55 56 Of note, the protective allele of rs6924535 is not in LD with previously confirmed variants associated with an increased risk for SLE in this region.