STAT4 and systemic lupus erythematosus: Consistent with these observations, using a candidate gene approach of type I IFN related genes, the T allele of rs3747517 in the IFIH1 gene was associated with a reduced risk of SLE while the T allele of rs7574865 in STAT4 was associated with an increased risk of developing SLE in children and adolescents (Zedan et al., 2021).