We found that CD8+ T cells from inactive and active SLE patients specific for lytic EBV antigens are functionally impaired in their capacity to secrete IFN-γ (P = 0.003 and 0.021, respectively), TNF-α (P = 0.005 and 0.004, respectively), IL-2 (P = 0.004 and 0.0001, respectively) and MIP-1β (P = 0.001 and 0.0001, respectively) compared to T cells from healthy controls (Figure 2C – upper panel). This evidence concerns the gene IL2 and systemic lupus erythematosus.