Planococcus has been associated with elevated plasma autoantibody levels, and exposure of heat-killed Planococcus to peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from SLE patients resulted in increased production of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, indicating a proinflammatory role in SLE pathogenesis [22]. This evidence concerns the gene TNF and systemic lupus erythematosus.