In this paper we describe the synthesis, structure-activity relationship (SAR), and biochemical characterization of N-(4-phenylthiazol-2-yl)benzenesulfonamides as inhibitors of kynurenine 3-hydroxylase. The compounds 3,4-dimethoxy-N-[4-(3-nitrophenyl)thiazol-2-yl]benzenesulfonamide 16 (IC50 = 37 nM, Ro-61-8048) and 4-amino-N-[4-[2-fluoro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-thiazol-2-yl] benzenesulfonamide 20 (IC50 = 19 nM) were found to be high-affinity inhibitors of this enzyme in vitro. In addition, both compounds blocked rat and gerbil kynurenine 3-hydroxylase after oral administration, with ED50's in the 3-5 mumol/kg range in gerbil brain. In a microdialysis experiment in rats, 16 dose dependently increased kynurenic acid concentration in the extracellular hippocampal fluid. A dose of 100 mumol/kg po led to a 7.5-fold increase in kynurenic acid outflow. These new compounds should allow detailed investigation of the pathophysiological role of the kynurenine pathway after neuronal injury.

Astrocytes are involved in non‐cell‐autonomous pathogenic cascades in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); however, their role is still debated. We show that astrocytic NF‐κB activation drives microglial proliferation and leukocyte infiltration in the SOD1 (G93A) ALS model. This response prolongs the presymptomatic phase, delaying muscle denervation and decreasing disease burden, but turns detrimental in the symptomatic phase, accelerating disease progression. The transition corresponds to a shift in the microglial phenotype showing two effects that can be dissociated by temporally controlling NF‐κB activation. While NF‐κB activation in astrocytes induced a Wnt‐dependent microglial proliferation in the presymptomatic phase with neuroprotective effects on motoneurons, in later stage, astrocyte NF‐κB‐dependent microglial activation caused an accelerated disease progression. Notably, suppression of the early microglial response by CB2R agonists had acute detrimental effects. These data identify astrocytes as important regulators of microglia expansion and immune response. Therefore, stage‐dependent microglia modulation may be an effective therapeutic strategy in ALS.

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Effective chain length / Second-order quenching rate constantsThe bimolecular rate constants k, for quenching of singlet oxygen (lAS state) by 26 different natural and novel synthetic carotenoids were determined at 37 "C in a mixture of chloroform and ethanol. The steady-state technique used involves the generation of by thermal decomposition of disodium 3,3'-naphtalene-l,4-diyl-dipropionate endoperoxide (NDP02) and the detection of its luminescence intensity at 1270 nm.Excitation energies (xJ', llA, -+ llB,) and absorption maxima (430-590 nm) vary in the broadest range. Deeply coloured blue carotenoids are also included in the studies for the first time. An empirical correlation between the X,X* (llA, + llB,) excitation energy and carotenoid structure (effective chain length N,,,) was found: E ( S ) = 12642 cm-l + 92027 cm-l X l/Neff. The quenching ability of the investigated carotenoids depends on the excitation energy of their transition at long wavelengths in a characteristic way showing as limiting factors either the thermal Arrhenius activation or the diffusion-controlled rate. This dependence and the suspected relationship between singlet E ( S ) and triplet E(T) energies, respectively, are discussed.

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