MBD2 and systemic lupus erythematosus: The MBD2 mRNA levels were significantly higher in the patients with active SLE compared with the non-active SLE patients (1.360±0.310 vs. 1.074±0.274, respectively; P=0.0066), while there was no significant difference between the controls (0.970±0.269) and non-active patients (P=0.2354; Fig. 1).