Expansion of SLE associated autoantibody specificities (anti-Ro first, then RNP, Sm, dsDNA, and La) began significantly later than the onset of dysregulation of IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IFN-γ, and MIG, as SLE patients evolved into classifiable disease. This evidence concerns the gene CXCL9 and systemic lupus erythematosus.