BiP regulates autoimmune inflammation and tissue damage.

The endoplasmic reticulum chaperone BiP, in addition to its many important intracellular functions, has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties when present in the extracellular environment by the stimulation of an anti-inflammatory gene programme from human monocytes and by the development of T-cells that secrete regulatory cytokines such as interleukin-10 and interleukin-4. It can both prevent as well as treat ongoing collagen-induced arthritis. It is, therefore, a potential new biologic therapy for rheumatoid arthritis.