Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease. About 60% of SLE patients have renal disease, and patients with rapidly progressive destruction of renal parenchyma have significantly poorer prognosis. Drug therapies that employ corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, and/or mycophenolate mofetil have improved patient outcomes, but a significant number of patients have refractory disease or cannot tolerate these drugs. Moreover, SLE patients who are partially responsive or resistant to treatment have significant morbidity，mortality, and exacerbations of renal function. Thus, in patients with lupus nephritis (LN), the two main causes of morbidity and mortality are treatment-related or patient-related. It has been suggested that new therapies be developed for SLE that more specifically target the relevant immunopathogenetic pathways, so as to achieve greater efficacy and reduce therapy-related toxicities ，and to save or protect renal function.