To verify whether the elevated levels of IFN-α in lupus contribute to the hypermethylation of Lef-1, we stimulated mouse splenic B cells with IFN-α for 24 h, and found increased methylation levels at the CpG site in the Lef-1 promoter region (Fig. 7H). Here, LEF1 is linked to systemic lupus erythematosus.