The present invention relates generally to the field of inflammatory diseases of the peripheral nervous system. More particularly, it concerns methods for treating inflammatory diseases of the peripheral nervous system by modulating sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor activity. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of treating a subject with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) or other autoimmune neuropathies comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of FTY720.