SLE is a multigenic disease associated with genetic, environmental and gender factors.23 24 Patients with SLE with GLK 3′-UTR (T635C) somatic variant showed more severe inflammation (increased anti-dsDNA antibody and decreased C3/C4 levels) and lymphocytopaenia than those of patients with SLE without this somatic variant. Here, C3 is linked to systemic lupus erythematosus.