CD40LG and systemic lupus erythematosus: Our results showed that the total cell protein levels of IKKα, β, ε and TBK1 were not affected by CD154 stimulation in B cells from both normal controls and lupus patients (Fig. 5A), whereas CD154-induced kinase activities were different in normal controls and lupus patients (Fig. 5B), with the later mimicked that of tonsil B cells, in that IKKα and IKKβ were more activated in SLE B cells compared to normal B cells (Fig. 5C).