A similar analysis in 90 treatment-naïve patients with SLE showed that the proportions of activated CD8+ T cells, activated Tc1 cells and plasmocytes correlated significantly with the anti-dsDNA antibody titre and CH50, and that activated CD8+ T cell numbers significantly increased in patients with highly active systemic, neurological and renal involvement (online supplemental figure 4). Here, CD8A is linked to systemic lupus erythematosus.