Initial studies in mice indicated that loss of BIM or overexpression of BCL2 leads to the production of antinuclear autoantibodies, resulting in autoimmune disease resembling Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).156,486 In humans, SLE is associated with high levels of T cell-dependent antinuclear autoantibodies and systemic inflammation. Here, BCL2 is linked to autoimmune disease.