By using this combined approach, significantly higher frequencies of autoantigen-specific CD4+ T cells could be detected in lupus-prone NZB/W F1 mice compared to haploidentical CW F1 mice that are not susceptible to lupus-like disease, suggesting a possible relationship between the generation of SmD1p-specific CD4+ T cells and the genetic pre-disposition for lupus. Here, CD4 is linked to systemic lupus erythematosus.