The numbers of T lymphocytes expressing NGF (17.2 ± 21.2 vs 9.8 ± 21.3, NS), BDNF (55.1 ± 33.5 vs 55.1 ± 33.5, NS) and NT-3 (57.5 ± 33.7 vs 52.9 ± 24.2, NS) were similar in the SLE and control groups and were independent of patients’ clinical and immunological SLE profiles. This evidence concerns the gene BDNF and systemic lupus erythematosus.