Objective To investigate the role of NF-?B in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis (LN). Methods A microwave-based immunohistochemistry (APAAP) was used to detect the expression of NF-?B p65 and C-myc protein in renal tissue of LN and normal control. At the same time, the correlation between expression of NF-?B and renal injuries in LN was examined. Results The expression of NF-?B in LN was higher than that of normal control, the highest one was type Ⅳ LN. The number of positive cells expressing NF-?B in renal tissue of LN showed a strong correlation with C-myc protein expression, kidney activity of LN, histological changes and functional lesion in LN, respectively. Conclusions NF-?B may play an important role in the pathogenesis of LN, and the number of positive cells expressing NF-?B may be considered as a predictor for the kidney activity and progressive renal injury in LN.