Abstract: Objective To examine whether activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) exists in skin lesions of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its association with disease activity. Methods The skin lesions were inves tigated histopathologically in patients with SLE, and NF-κB activation was ass essed by immunohistochemical analysis semi quantitatively. Results Expression o f NF-êB was found on skin lesions in 14 of 15 patients with SLE, including 8 s trong positive (+++), 3 moderate positive (++), and 3 mild positive (+). Brown-coloured particles were mainly distributed in keratinocytes, especially in prick lecells and granular layer cells, as well as in mononuclear cells of dermis. Th ere was no correlation between NF-κB activation and disease activity. However, NF-êB was not detected in skin lesions of all patients with non-SLE and healthy controls. Conclusions NF-κB activation may be associated with the development of skin lesions in patients with SLE,and not with disease activity.

Key words: Lupus erythematosus, systemic, NF-kappa B