Previous work from our group has shown that Cd38−/− mice develop a milder pristane-induced lupus disease than WT or Art2−/− counterparts, demonstrating a new role for CD38 in promoting aberrant inflammation and lupus-like autoimmunity via a Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 2 (TRPM2)-dependent apoptosis-driven mechanism. The gene discussed is CD38; the disease is systemic lupus erythematosus.