Disclosed are novel compositions and methods for treating systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) as well as a model for measuring the efficacy of said treatments. Specifically, the disclosure provides a non-human animal model for SLE comprising a severe combined immunodeficient non-human animal comprising exogenous cells from a human subject with SLE, wherein the cells from the human subject are peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Further disclosed is a method of screening for a drug candidate that inhibits or reduces SLE using a severe combined immunodeficient non-human animal.
