This invention provides methods for treating inflammatory or autoimmune diseases by contacting the affected cell or tissue with a therapeutic compound as described herein. Such pathologies include, but are not limited to rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythmatosus, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and scleroderma. Therapeutic compounds useful in the methods of this invention are selected from the group consisting of a 1,5-substituted pyrimidine derivative or analog and substituted furano-pyrimidone analog.