In the present study, we investigated the cytotoxic function (perforin/granzyme B expression and CD107a degranulation) and cytokine production (IFN-γ and TNF-α) of NK (including NKdim and NKbright subsets) and NKT-like cells from SLE patients in various disease statuses. This evidence concerns the gene TNF and systemic lupus erythematosus.