Previous studies have found that the Homo sapiens interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) gene is strongly associated with the development of SLE (32), and a study from the United States suggests that polymorphisms in the IRF5 gene may be associated with protection against IBD (33); this is also consistent with our analysis (rs35000415, IRF5). This evidence concerns the gene IRF5 and systemic lupus erythematosus.