Methods are provided for the inhibition or prevention of relapses in pre-existing autoimmune disease by decreasing activity or expression of osteopontin in immune cells found in tissues affected by the autoimmune disease. Osteopontin is shown herein to mediate autoimmune relapses and induce a shift to the secondary or progressive stage in autoimmune disease. Osteopontin promotes the survival of activated T cells through regulation of transcription factors, FoxO3a and NF-κB and via the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins.