Microglia are brain macrophages and, as such, key immune-competent cells that can respond to environmental changes. Understanding the mechanisms of microglia-specific responses during pathologies is hence vital for reducing disease burden. The definition of microglial functions has so far been hampered by the lack of genetic in vivo approaches that allow discrimination of microglia from closely related peripheral macrophage populations in the body. Here we introduce a mouse experimental system that specifically targets microglia to examine the role of a mitogen-associated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAP3K), transforming growth factor (TGF)-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), during autoimmune inflammation. Conditional depletion of TAK1 in microglia only, not in neuroectodermal cells, suppressed disease, significantly reduced CNS inflammation and diminished axonal and myelin damage by cell-autonomous inhibition of the NF-κB, JNK and ERK1/2 pathways. Thus, we found TAK1 to be pivotal in CNS autoimmunity, and we present a tool for future investigations of microglial function in the CNS.

A preceding paper (Bonfanti et al. J. Med Chem. 2007, 50, 4572-4584) reported the optimization of the pharmacokinetic profile of substituted benzimidazoles by reducing their tissue retention. However, the modifications that were necessary to achieve this goal also led to a significant drop in anti-RSV activity. This paper describes a molecular modeling study followed by a lead optimization program that led to the recovery of the initial potent antiviral activity and the selection of TMC353121 as a clinical candidate.

Aktiv durch Licht: Die Bestrahlung von inerten [PtIV(diam(m)in)(diazido)]‐Komplexen mit sichtbarem Licht bewirkt reduktive Eliminierung der Azidoliganden und Freisetzung von N2. Die so erzeugte Pt‐Spezies bildet mit Guaninresten Addukte mit letaler Wirkung auf Krebszellen (siehe Schema).

We previously reported the discovery of substituted benzimidazole fusion inhibitors with nanomolar activity against respiratory syncytial virus (Andries, K.; et al. Antiviral Res. 2003, 60, 209-219). A lead compound of the series was selected for preclinical evaluation. This drug candidate, JNJ-2408068 (formerly R170591, 1), showed long tissue retention times in several species (rat, dog, and monkey), creating cause for concern. We herein describe the optimization program to develop compounds with improved properties in terms of tissue retention. We have identified the aminoethyl-piperidine moiety as being responsible for the long tissue retention time of 1. We have investigated the replacement or the modification of this group, and we suggest that the pKa of this part of the molecules influences both the antiviral activity and the pharmacokinetic profile. We were able to identify new respiratory syncytial virus inhibitors with shorter half-lives in lung tissue.

The discovery that post‐translational farnesylation of Ras oncoprotein was an essential step in exercising its biological effect led to the design of farnesyl protein transferase inhibitors (FTIs) in order to control growth of tumors bearing Ras mutations. Pre‐clinical studies on murine models have confirmed their inhibitory effect on tumor growth and enabled clinical development. R115777 (ZARNESTRATM) is currently undergoing clinical evaluation and recent studies have confirmed its antitumor potential and low toxicity. We wish to describe here the chemical synthesis routes that our group have developed to access ZARNESTRATM. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2004)