The objective of the present study is to characterize circulating peripheral B and T lymphocytes together with the evaluation of soluble B-cell related factors belonging to the TNF/TNFR superfamily in a real-life cohort of clinically active SLE patients treated with Belimumab, in order to explore the potential role of these pathogenetic factors as predictors of response to therapy. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is systemic lupus erythematosus.