IRF7 and systemic lupus erythematosus: As further illustrated by the case of a specific gene, i.e., interferon regulated factor 7 (IRF7), up-regulated expression of IRF7 in SLE patients (relative to the controls) was accompanied by a down-regulated IRI of the IRF7 transcript as shown in Fig. 2C. This pattern between IR and gene expression was consistent with the earlier results reported during in vitro T-cell activation23.