SLE immature BM FLDCs expressed higher levels of DC-SIGN (SLE versus controls = 12.311 ± 1.286 versus 1.241 ± 0.262; p < 0.01) and CD40 (SLE versus controls = 1.629 ± 0.35 versus 0.312 ± 0.255; P < 0.01) than did normal controls. Here, CD40 is linked to systemic lupus erythematosus.