The development of SLE symptoms is possibly linked to a reduction in miRNA-146a levels which disrupts the regulation of the interferon (IFN) pathway.29 miRNA-146a expression can regulate IFN production which is mediated by IRAK1 and TRAF6, two key elements involved in Toll-like receptor signalling.29 The results of the present study indicated that the expression of IRAK1 and TRAF6 showed a tendency to be downregulated at 12 months compared with that at diagnosis, and that there was a significant negative correlation between circulating exosomal miRNA-146a and TRAF6. Here, IRAK1 is linked to systemic lupus erythematosus.