We found that SLE inhibited nuclear accumulation of STAT3 in A375 cells, decreased the protein and mRNA levels of Mcl-1, Bcl-xL MMP-2 and MMP-9 in both A375 and B16F10 cells; whereas, SLE did not reduce the expression of VEGF (Data not shown). The gene discussed is MMP2; the disease is systemic lupus erythematosus.