CD40LG and lupus nephritis: Several types of auto-antibodies are thought to play an important role in the development and progression of lupus nephritis, such as anti-double-stranded DNA (ds-DNA) antibodies, anti-nucleosome antibodies, anti-C1q antibodies,7,8 auto-antibodies against podocyte antigens,9,10 etc, while hindrance of inflammatory tissue damage could also be mediated by protective auto-antibodies, such as anti-dsDNA IgM.11