CXCL13 and systemic lupus erythematosus: Therefore, the elevated expression of CXCL13 by myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) in the target organs may play a crucial role in breaking the immune tolerance in the thymus leading to the activation of self-reactive CD4+ Th cells and the recruitment of autoantibody producing B cells in the development of murine lupus [83, 87, 88].