SP and CGRP increase vascular permeability, perfusion (through vasodilatory effects) and plasma protein leakage from cutaneous vessels (Holzer, 1998), and are thought to play an important role in the contralateral spread of arthritis (Bileviciute et al., 1998; Decaris et al., 1999; Lam et al., 2004). Here, TFF2 is linked to arthritic joint disease.