CXCR3 and systemic lupus erythematosus: As the inflammation-related CXCR3 receptor is functionally expressed by a subset of CD138high cells and since kidneys are one of the main organs where inflammatory phenomena occur in lupus mice and patients, we then decided to analyze by quantitative real-time PCR the expression levels of genes encoding CXCR3-binding chemokines in the kidneys of sick NZB/W mice (32–40 week-old and proteinuria-positive) as compared to kidneys of young NZB/W animals (10 week-old, proteinuria-negative) or to kidneys of age-matched control BALB/c mice (35–40 week-old).