CD8A and systemic lupus erythematosus: Defective cytotoxic function in SLE may imply failure to remove autoreactive B cells which produce the antibody complexes that are pathognomonic of SLE [31], whereas enhanced CD8+ T cell cytotoxicity may result in generation of high amounts of nuclear autoantigen and propagation of disease through enhanced production of autoantibodies by activated B cells, as well as tissue damage of target organs by CD8+ T cells [30].