We found that LAIR1 was expressed on T lymphocytes of SLE and MCTD patients at levels comparable to those detected on T cells from HD and SSc patients (not shown); in addition, the percentages of LAIR1+ and LAIR1− T cells present in peripheral blood were similar in SLE, MCTD, SSc and HD (fig. This evidence concerns the gene LAIR1 and systemic lupus erythematosus.