IFNG and systemic lupus erythematosus: Cytokines play a critical role in SLE immune regulation where patients primarily exhibit an upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17A, IFN-γ) and downregulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines like IL-10 and TGF-β, that play a role in increased autoimmunity expressed by SLE (145).