CSF levels of IL-6 (47 ± 25 pg/ml versus 15 ± 3 pg/ml; P < 0.008) and IL-8 (91 ± 23 pg/ml versus 45 ± 6 pg/ml; P < 0.05) were both significantly increased in CSF from patients with CNS lupus as compared with cerebrally healthy SLE patients, supporting our previous findings [15,19]. The gene discussed is CXCL8; the disease is systemic lupus erythematosus.