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A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR) is recognized as a novel therapeutic target for ischemic injury; however, the mechanism underlying anti-ischemic protection by the A3AR agonist remains unclear. Here, we report that 2-chloro-N 6 -(3-iodobenzyl)-5=-N-methylcarbamoyl-4=-thioadenosine (LJ529), a selective A3AR agonist, reduces inflammatory responses that may contribute to ischemic cerebral injury. Postischemic treatment with LJ529 markedly reduced cerebral ischemic injury caused by 1.5-hour middle cerebral artery occlusion, followed by 24-hour reperfusion in rats. This effect was abolished by the simultaneous administration of the A3AR antagonist MRS1523, but not the A2AAR antagonist SCH58261. LJ529 prevented the infiltration/migration of microglia and monocytes occurring after middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion, and also after injection of lipopolysaccharides into the corpus callosum. The reduced migration of microglia by LJ529 could be related with direct inhibition of chemotaxis and down-regulation of spatiotemporal expression of Rho GTPases (including Rac, Cdc42, and Rho), rather than by biologically relevant inhibition of inflammatory cytokine/chemokine release ( Excitotoxicity, peri-infarct depolarization, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation contribute to the development of cerebral injury after ischemia.1 To develop effective therapeutic strategies for postischemic brain injury, it is crucial to understand the highly diverse temporal profiles (eg, onset and duration) of these individual factors and to interrupt their pathophysiological cascades. The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor blocker MK-801 markedly reduces ischemic brain injury; however, MK-801 has a brief therapeutic time window: the neuroprotective effect of MK-801 is obtained only when therapy is given within at most 1 hour after the onset of focal ischemia in rats and gerbils.2,3 Furthermore, MK-801 only postpones postischemic neuronal death; it does not improve either neurological recovery or endpoint cell survival at weeks after treatment. 4,5 Similarly, ␣-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) receptor antagonists also did not significantly protect neuronal loss at 28 days after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).6 This short therapeutic window and lack of long-term effect of NMDA or AMPA receptor antagonists suggests that these receptors play only a transient role in the early ischemic cascade. Thus, some pathophysiological

The novel beta coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2, designated as COVID-19) that is responsible for severe acute respiratory syndrome has devastated the global economy and health care system. Since COVID-19 changed the definition of "normal" in ordinary life around the world, the development of effective therapeutics and preventive measures is desperately needed to fight SARS-CoV-2 infection and restore normalcy. A clear understanding of COVID-19 pathogenesis is crucial in providing the scientific rationale necessary to develop anti-COVID19 drugs and vaccines. According to the most recently published literature, COVID-19 pathogenesis was postulated to occur in three sequential phases: pulmonary, proinflammatory, and prothrombic. Herein, virus-host interactions, potential pathogenic mechanisms, and clinical manifestations are described for each phase. Additionally, based on this pathogenesis model, various therapeutic strategies involving current clinical trials are presented with an explanation of their modes of action and example drugs. This review is a thorough, updated summary of COVID-19 pathogenesis and the therapeutic options available for this disease. Keywords Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) • Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) • Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) • Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) • ACE2 deficiency • Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) • Acute lung injury (ALI) • Cytokine storm • Thrombosis • Coagulopathy • Multi-organ failure (MOF)

The preparative and stereoselective synthesis (45-50% overall yields) of the target compound 17 has been accomplished from D-ribose. The bulky protecting groups such as TBDPS and Trityl enforced the facial selectivity during Grignard reaction to give the tertiary beta-allylic alcohol 16 as the sole product, which was oxidatively rearranged to the key molecule 17 in excellent yield.

Novel D- and L-4′-thioadenosine derivatives lacking the 4′-hydroxymethyl moiety were synthesized, starting from D-mannose and D-gulonic γ-lactone, respectively, as potent and selective species-independent A3 adenosine receptor (AR) antagonists. Among the novel 4′-truncated 2-H nucleosides tested, a N6-(3-chlorobenzyl) derivative 7c was the most potent at the human A3 AR (Ki = 1.5 nM), but a N6-(3-bromobenzyl) derivative 7d showed the optimal species-independent binding affinity.

The first and highly stereoselective asymmetric total syntheses of eight-membered ring ether marine natural products (+)-3-(E)-pinnatifidenyne and (+)-3-(Z)-pinnatifidenyne have been accomplished. Notable features of our syntheses include a novel and efficient construction of oxocene 5 by a highly stereo- and regioselective internal alkylation and direct ketone synthesis of ketone 16 from the alpha-alkyloxy amide moiety in oxocene 5.

Truncated N6-substituted-4′-oxo- and 4′-thioadenosine derivatives with C2 or C8 substitution were studied as dual acting A2A and A3 adenosine receptor (AR) ligands. The lithiation-mediated stannyl transfer and palladium-catalyzed cross coupling reactions were utilized for functionalization of the C2 position of 6-chloropurine nucleosides. An unsubstituted 6-amino group and a hydrophobic C2 substituent were required for high affinity at the hA2AAR, but hydrophobic C8 substitution abolished binding at the hA2AAR. However, most of synthesized compounds displayed medium to high binding affinity at the hA3AR, regardless of C2 or C8 substitution, and low efficacy in a functional cAMP assay. Several compounds tended to be full hA2AAR agonists. C2 substitution probed geometrically through hA2AAR-docking, was important for binding in order of hexynyl > hexenyl > hexanyl. Compound 4g was the most potent ligand acting dually as hA2AAR agonist and hA3AR antagonist, which might be useful for treatment of asthma or other inflammatory diseases.

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