NF-(kappa)B is an important component of both autoimmunity and bone destruction in RA. NF-(kappa)B-inducing kinase (NIK) is a key mediator of the alternative arm of the NF-(kappa)B pathway, which is characterized by the nuclear translocation of RelB/p52 complexes. Mice lacking functional NIK have no peripheral lymph nodes, defective B and T cells, and impaired receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand-stimulated osteoclastogenesis. We investigated the role of NIK in murine models of inflammatory arthritis using Nik-/- mice. The serum transfer arthritis model is initiated by preformed antibodies and required only intact neutrophil and complement systems in recipients. While Nik-/- mice had inflammation equivalent to that of Nik+/+ controls, they showed significantly less periarticular osteoclastogenesis and less bone erosion. In contrast, Nik-/- mice were completely resistant to antigen-induced arthritis (AIA), which requires intact antigen presentation and lymphocyte function but not lymph nodes. Additionally, transfer of Nik+/+ splenocytes or T cells to Rag2-/- mice conferred susceptibility to AIA, while transfer of Nik-/- cells did not. Nik-/- mice were also resistant to a genetic, spontaneous form of arthritis, generated in mice expressing both the KRN T cell receptor and H-2. Thus, NIK is important in the immune and bone-destructive components of inflammatory arthritis and represents a possible therapeutic target for these diseases.