IKBKB and systemic lupus erythematosus: There was no significant difference in IKK-β mRNA (Figure 4(a)) and total IKK-β (t-IKK-β) protein levels (Figure 4(b)) between SLE patients and healthy controls; however, western blot showed that the phosphorylated-IKK-β (p-IKK-β) protein level in SLE BMSCs was significantly increased compared with that from healthy controls (Figure 4(b)).