In autoimmune diseases in which pathogenic or excess IgG antibodies are the etiological agents, such as myasthenia gravis, bullous pemphigoid, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), it is sometimes advantageous to reduce endogenous serum IgG levels by interfering with FcRn function. The gene discussed is FCGRT; the disease is systemic lupus erythematosus.