IRF7 and systemic lupus erythematosus: Apoptosis, cancer, host defense, viral latency, and immunological response are a few of the processes regulated by this protein, which is mostly present in B - cell, plasmacytoid dcs (PDCs), and monocytes. It is also essential for type I IFN-mediated intrinsic immunity (30). Regulation of IRF7 expression and IRF7-mediated immune processes play important roles in SLE (31).