Among the genes that were downregulated in thymic B cells from diseased-BWF1 mice, we found Hif1a, Blk, and Btn2a2, whose low expression has been associated with the induction or development of several autoimmune diseases such as collagen-induced arthritis, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and SLE (36–39). The gene discussed is BLK; the disease is systemic lupus erythematosus.