CD40LG and systemic lupus erythematosus: In pristane-induced lupus mice, we found that coptisine treatment dramatically decreased the levels of serum autoantibodies, including IgG and IgM autoantibodies against dsDNA, Sm, histones, total IgG, and serum cytokines and improved the pathologic characteristics of the spleen, which indicated that coptisine had an ameliorative effect on the disease.