Nitrobenzene compounds inhibit expression of VCAM-1

A series of nitrobenzene compounds has been discovered as potent inhibitors of VCAM-1 expression and, therefore, potential drug candidates for autoimmune and allergic inflammatory diseases. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies showed that a nitro group and two other electron-withdrawing groups are essential for these compounds to be potent inhibitors of VCAM-1 expression. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.