NEU1 and lupus nephritis: Previously Nowling et al. (51) observed elevated Lact-Cer and Hex-Cer levels in lupus nephritis MRL/lpr mice and suggested that these elevated glycosphingolipid levels could be caused by increased ganglioside GM3 catabolism, in part, by sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP)-1c induction of Neu1 expression, which breaks down gangliosides to generate Lact-Cer.