The present invention features a method of treating or reducing the likelihood of an inflammatory autoimmune disorder (e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)) or a kidney disorder (e.g., glomerulonephritis) in a subject by administering an inhibitor of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type IV (CaMKIV). The invention additionally features methods of diagnosing a subject with SLE or a kidney disorder by determining the level or biological activity of a CaMKIV nucleic acid or polypeptide in a sample from a subject. Also included in the invention are methods for identifying compounds that inhibit CaMKIV for the treatment of an inflammatory autoimmune disorder (e.g., SLE) or a kidney disorder (e.g., glomerulonephritis).
