In addition, since in vivo the function of CD1c+DCs is influenced by their environment and they can be matured into immunogenic cells by other stimuli such as CD40 ligand (CD40L) and toll-like receptor (TLR) activation, both of which are likely to occur in lupus patients, we next investigated the function of the UC-MSCs induced CD1c+DCs in the lupus patients, by their functional markers (CD40/CD80/CD83/CD86 expression), ability to present antigen (HLA-DR expression) and cytokines production including IL-10 and TNFα. This evidence concerns the gene CD40 and systemic lupus erythematosus.