Starting at 9 to 10 weeks of age (close to the time when autoimmune disease is detected) and continuing up until 29 weeks of age (when systemic autoimmune disease is well-established), MRL/lpr mice were treated with anti-CD6, isotype control, cyclophosphamide, or mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). The gene discussed is CD6; the disease is autoimmune disease.