In vehicle- or TAC-treated lupus nephritis mice, mild mesangial and subendothelial immune depositions of complement factors (C3 and C1q, as well as fibrinogen, IgG, IgA, and IgM) were detected, whereas the kidneys of HGC-TAC treated MRL/lpr mice displayed decreased immune deposits (Fig. 3b). Here, C3 is linked to lupus nephritis.