TNFSF13B and rheumatoid arthritis: Furthermore, patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis and pemphigus vulgaris usually present with elevated BAFF levels (Vallerskog et al., 2006; Nagel et al., 2009) and transgenic mice with the overexpression of BAFF developed a pSS-like pathology with age, manifested by infiltration of lymphatic tissue adjacent to the duct, destruction of glandular tissue, and diminished salivation (Groom et al., 2002).