IRF4 and systemic lupus erythematosus: Notably, most of the top upregulated Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) in SLE follicular areas were interferon stimulated- (ISGs like IRF7, IFI6, IFI44L, ISG20 etc) or plasma cell-related (PRDM1, IRF4, IGHG1 etc) genes, a profile independent of the gender of SLE individuals.