As such, this molecule along with BAFF were rational targets for new therapies in B cell-driven autoimmune diseases, such as the BAFF/APRIL dual inhibitor, atacicept and the BAFF inhibitor, belimumab which is approved as an add-on therapy for active SLE (Samy et al. 2017), however, more preclinical and clinical studies on APRIL are still needed in RA. This evidence concerns the gene TNFSF13B and systemic lupus erythematosus.