There were higher LC3 and Beclin-1 levels and lower mTOR levels in PBMCs from SLE patients than those from HC (Fig. 4a, for LC3, p = 0.002, Fig. 4d, for Beclin-1, p = 0.004, Fig. 4g, for mTOR, p = 0.047), while LC3 and Beclin-1 levels were positively correlated with activity scores (Fig. 4b, for LC3, r = 0.359, p = 0.004; Fig. 4e, for Beclin-1, r = 0.399, p = 0.001). This evidence concerns the gene BECN1 and systemic lupus erythematosus.