CD69 and systemic lupus erythematosus: This is consistent with other studies describing reduced responses of SLE B cells against pokeweed mitogen (92); reduced IL-6, IL-10, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and IL-1ra production and reduced Ki-67 expression (43, 44); and reduced frequencies of CD69+CD86+ and TACI+CD25+ B cells after TLR9 in vitro stimulation (44).