In addition, we noticed a stepwise increased expression of nine IFN genes from NC to SLE LN− to SLE LN+, suggesting a pathogenic role of the IFNs in the development of SLE and LN, even though the difference between SLE LN− and SLE LN+ was not statistically significant for all IFNs except for MX1. Here, MX1 is linked to systemic lupus erythematosus.