ACR	American College of Rheumatology
anti-RNP	anti-ribonucleoprotein antibodies
BLyS	B lymphocyte stimulator
CCL2	monocyte chemotaxis protein-1 (MCP-1)
CXCL10	IFN-gamma-inducible protein 10 (IP-10)
CCL19	Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 19
ds	DNA double-stranded DNA ()
ELISA	enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
IFN-α	Interferon α
IFNAR	IFN-α receptors
IRF	IFN-regulatory factor
ISRE	IFN-stimulated response element
pg/mL	Picograms per millilitre
pDCs	plasmacytoid dendritic cells
SLE	systemic lupus erythematosus
SLEDAI	Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index
SLICC	Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics
SPSS	Software Package Scientific Statistics
TLRs	Toll-like receptors