Positron emission tomography (PET) using18-F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (18F-FDG)(PET/FDG) tail vein injections, combined with computed tomography (CT) for anatomical localization and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) by intraperitoneal injection of 99mTC labeled Albumin Nanocoll (99mTC-Nanocoll), has been explored in murine models of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) to detect early kidney changes and TLS presence. The gene discussed is ALB; the disease is systemic lupus erythematosus.