PBMCs were collected from 23 SLE patients and each sample was divided into 3 parts to cultured with different concentrations of dexamethasone (0, 0.5 μM and 1 μM, defined as control, low dose and high dose) for 24 hours and then measured for CXCR5+ PD1+/CD4+ cells. Here, CXCR5 is linked to systemic lupus erythematosus.