Few evidences are reported so far for alterations of CD8+ suppressive T cells in human autoimmune diseases i.e. rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), ankylosing spondylitis, systemic sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, primary biliary cirrhosis, experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease (rev in [14]). The gene discussed is CD8A; the disease is systemic lupus erythematosus.