B2M and systemic lupus erythematosus: Here, we investigated the role of β2m on diverse aspects of lupus - survival, nephritis, hypergammaglobulinemia, rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-DNA and anti-cardiolipin (anti-CL) autoantibodies - using a genetically susceptible animal model, namely NZB/NZW F1 (BWF1) mice that develop T-cell-dependent, autoantibody-mediated disease [23].