CD8A and systemic lupus erythematosus: We next utilized human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from SLE patients and healthy donors, and confirmed the preferential usage of Vβ5 and Vβ8 by CD8 and DN T cells from SLE patients but not healthy donors (Fig. 7b), further suggesting the possibility that DN T cells develop from self-antigen-stimulated CD8 T cells in SLE.