As shown in Figure 6, absolute counts of CD45+ lymphocytes (Figure 6A), CD3+ T cells (Figure 6B), CD3+CD4+ T cells (Figure 6C), and the CD4+/CD8+ T-cell ratio (Figure 6E) were all significantly lower in SLE patients than in normal controls (NCs). The gene discussed is CD8A; the disease is systemic lupus erythematosus.