CD8A and systemic lupus erythematosus: Neutralization of IL-2 profoundly diminished the phosphorylation of STAT6 and GATA-3 expression in SLE CD8+ T cells; however, with regard to the impact of IL-2 blockade on STAT5 phosphorylation, such dose-dependent abolishment of phospho-STAT5 was not observed (Figures 4A, B).