The invention relates to the utilization of therapeutic agents inhibiting th e production of tumoral necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), which induce high levels of interleukin 4 (IL-4), in the treatment of endotoxic shock and inflammatory and autoimmune diseases in mammals. Said agents are t he vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), the pituitary adenylate cyclase- activating peptide (PACAP) and their corresponding fragments and derivatives .
1. A method for the treatment of endotoxic shock in mammals characterised in that it comprises the administration of an effective quantity of an agent that inhibits the production of tumoral necrosis factor (TNF) in a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle. 2. A method for the treatment of endotoxic shock in mammals according to claim 1, characterised in that the inhibitory agent is a vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) or any fragments thereof or some analogue derivative. 3. A method for the treatment of endotoxic shock in mammals according to claim 1, characterised in that the inhibitory agent is the adenylate cyclase hypophysary peptide activator (ACHPA) or any fragments thereof or some analogue derivative. 4. A method for the treatment of endotoxic shock in mammals characterised in that it comprises the administration of an effective quantity of an agent that inhibits the production of interleukin 6 (IL-6) in a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle. 5. A method for the treatment of endotoxic shock in mammals according to claim 4, characterised in that the inhibitory agent is a vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) or any fragments thereof or some analogue derivative. 6. A method for the treatment of endotoxic shock in mammals according to claim 4, characterised in that the inhibitory agent is the adenylate cyclase hypophysary peptide activator (ACHPA) or any fragments thereof or some analogue derivative. 7. A method for the treatment of inflammatory or autoimmune pathologies in mammals, characterised by the activation of Th1 cells, which comprises the administration of an effective dose of an agent, in a pharmaceutically appropriate vehicle, which induces high levels of IL-4. 8. A method for the treatment of inflammatory or autoimmune pathologies in mammals according to claim 7, characterised in that the inducing agent is the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) or a fragment thereof or some analogue derivative. 9. A method for the treatment of inflammatory or autoimmune pathologies in mammals according to claim 7, characterised in that the inducing agent is the adenylate cyclase hypophysary activator peptide (ACHPA) or any fragment thereof or some analogue derivative.