Ourselves and others have previously reported that VIP inhibits the nuclear translocation of NFκB and also the JNK signalling pathway in LPS (lipopolysaccharide) stimulated macrophage and monocytic cell lines [35-37] In the present report, we describe that this mechanism also operates in vivo and may involve other cell types involved in the pathogenesis of RA. This evidence concerns the gene VIP and rheumatoid arthritis.