B cells from B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (46), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (47), rheumatoid arthritis (48), systemic lupus erythematosus (49), and primary Sjogren's syndrome (50) express high levels of BAFF, which rescues them from apoptosis in an autocrine loop. This evidence concerns the gene TNFSF13B and rheumatoid arthritis.