A neuronal degeneration marker (protein tau) and an astrocytic degeneration marker (glial fibrillary acidic protein) were both significantly increased in CSF from NPSLE patients as compared with CSF from SLE patients who were clinically free from CNS involvement (311 ± 78 pg/ml versus 178 ± 16 pg/ml [P < 0.05] and 1288 ± 708 pg/ml versus 396 ± 30 pg/ml [P < 0.009]), in concordance with previous findings [28,32]. The gene discussed is GFAP; the disease is systemic lupus erythematosus.