IFNA17 and systemic lupus erythematosus: ,6 In SLE, chronic IFNα production fuels autoimmunity by promoting the differentiation of monocytes to dendritic cells (DCs),7,8 which activate autoreactive T cells; the generation of effector and memory CD8+T cells9,10,11; and the differentiation of B cells into autoantibody-producing plasma cells but not Bregs.5