As expected, injection of anti-CD180 Ab could significantly reduce the levels of CD86 on peritoneal macrophages (Figure 7H), splenic macrophages (Figure 7I) and DCs (Figure 7J) from MRL/lpr mice, indicating that ligation of CD180 can inhibit the activation of macrophages and DCs in vivo and ameliorates lupus-symptoms in MRL/lpr mice. This evidence concerns the gene CD86 and systemic lupus erythematosus.