Taken together, we anticipate that anti-NFAT5 blockades (e.g., small molecules including KRN2 or KRN5 and small hairpin RNAs) will be novel candidates in the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as RA, T1D, and MS in which NFAT5 and its targets play a key role. The gene discussed is NFAT5; the disease is rheumatoid arthritis.