The present invention relates to the treatment of autoimmune and/or
inflammatory diseases associated with overexpression of Toll-like
receptor 3 (TLR3) as well as Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and/or TLR3/TLR4
signaling in nonimmune cells, monocytes, macrophages, and/or dendritic
cells in association with related pathologies. This invention also
relates to the use of phenylmethimazoles, methimazole derivatives, and
tautomeric cyclic thiones for the treatment of autoimmune and
inflammatory diseases associated with Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) as well
as Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and/or TLR3/TLR4 signaling in nonimmune
cells, monocytes, macrophages, and/or dendritic cells in association with
related pathologies. This invention also relates to treating a subject
having a disease or condition associated with abnormal Toll-like receptor
3 as well as Toll-like receptor 4 and/or TLR3/TLR4 signaling in nonimmune
cells, monocytes, macrophages, and/or dendritic cells in association with
related pathologies. The present invention also relates to the treatment
of autoimmune-inflammatory pathologies and chemokine and
cytokine-mediated diseases associated with TLR overexpression and
signaling. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical formulations
capable of inhibiting the IRF-3/Type 1 IFN/STAT/ISRE/IRF-1 pathway
associated with Toll-like receptor overexpression or signaling.