In the current study, we confirmed that B cells in the spleen, mLN and PBMC were able to express BAFF at the protein level, and B cells in the spleen and mLN showed the highest expression of BAFF at 9 weeks during the progression of SLE, while at 12 weeks in PBMC (Fig. 4C). The gene discussed is TNFSF13B; the disease is systemic lupus erythematosus.