Claims for Patent: 9,000,018

Summary for Patent: 9,000,018

Title:	Thiazolidin-4-one-derivatives
Abstract:	The invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing at least one thiazolidin-4-one derivative to prevent or treat disorders associated with an activated immune system. Furthermore, the invention relates to novel thiazolidin-4-one derivatives notably for use as pharmaceutically active compounds. Said compounds particularly act also as immunosuppressive agents.
Inventor(s):	Binkert; Christoph (Basel, CH), Bolli; Martin (Allschwil, CH), Mathys; Boris (Egerkingen, CH), Mueller; Claus (Weil am Rhein, CH), Scherz; Michael (Ettingen, CH), Nayler; Oliver (Arlesheim, CH)
Assignee:	Actelion Pharmaceuticals, Ltd (Allschwil, CH)
Application Number:	13/951,954
Patent Claims:	1. A method for reducing the number of circulating lymphocytes in an animal comprising administering an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition containing at least one thiazolidin-4-one derivative of the General Formula (II) ##STR00236## wherein: R.sup.14 represents lower alkyl; lower alkenyl; cycloalkyl; 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphth-1-yl; 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphth-2-yl; a phenyl group; or a phenyl group mono-, di- or tri-substituted independently with lower alkyl, halogen, lower alkoxy, or --CF.sub.3; R.sup.15 represents lower alkyl; allyl; cyclopropyl; cyclobutyl; cyclopentyl; or mono- or di-lower alkylamino; R.sup.16 represents hydrogen; hydroxy; lower alkoxy; lower alkyl; or halogen; R.sup.17 represents hydrogen, lower alkyl, or hydroxymethyl; R.sup.18, R.sup.19, R.sup.21 and R.sup.22 each represents independently hydrogen or methyl; R.sup.20 represents hydrogen or lower alkyl; and in case m represents the integer 1, R.sup.20 in addition represents lower alkoxy, hydroxy, --NH.sub.2, --NHR.sup.5 or --NR.sup.5R.sup.6, wherein R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 each represents independently lower alkyl; R.sup.23 represents hydrogen; lower alkyl; hydroxycarbonyl-lower alkyl; 1-glyceryl; or 2-glyceryl; m represents the integer 0 or 1, in free or pharmaceutically acceptable salt form. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said thiazolidin-4-one derivative is the (Z,Z) isomer. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein R.sup.14 represents an unsubstituted, or a mono- or di-substituted phenyl group. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein R.sup.14 represents an unsubstituted, or a mono- or di-substituted phenyl group, substituted with methyl or halogen. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein R.sup.15 represents lower alkyl. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein R.sup.16 represents halogen or methyl. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein m represents the integer 0, and R.sup.17, R.sup.18, R.sup.19 and R.sup.20 represent hydrogen. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein m represents the integer 1, R.sup.17, R.sup.18, R.sup.19, R.sup.21 and R.sup.22 represent hydrogen, and R.sup.20 represents hydroxy. 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein R.sup.23 represents hydrogen. 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein m represents the integer 0, and R.sup.17, R.sup.18, R.sup.19, R.sup.20 and R.sup.23 represent hydrogen. 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein m represents the integer 1, R.sup.17, R.sup.18, R.sup.19, R.sup.21, R.sup.22 and R.sup.23 represent hydrogen, and R.sup.20 represents hydroxy. 12. The method according to claim 1, wherein R.sup.14 represents an unsubstituted, or a mono- or di-substituted phenyl group, substituted with methyl or halogen, and R.sup.15 represents lower alkyl. 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein R.sup.14 represents an unsubstituted, or a mono- or di-substituted phenyl group, substituted with methyl or halogen, m represents the integer 0, and R.sup.17, R.sup.18, R.sup.19, R.sup.20 and R.sup.23 represent hydrogen. 14. The method according to claim 1, wherein R.sup.14 represents an unsubstituted, or a mono- or di-substituted phenyl group, substituted with methyl or halogen, m represents the integer 1, R.sup.17, R.sup.18, R.sup.19, R.sup.21, R.sup.22 and R.sup.23 represent hydrogen, and R.sup.20 represents hydroxy. 15. The method according to claim 1, wherein R.sup.14 represents an unsubstituted, or a mono- or di-substituted phenyl group, substituted with methyl or halogen, R.sup.15 represents lower alkyl, R.sup.16 represents methyl or halogen, m represents the integer 0, and R.sup.17, R.sup.18, R.sup.19, R.sup.20 and R.sup.23 each represent hydrogen. 16. The method according to claim 1, wherein R.sup.14 represents an unsubstituted, or a mono- or di-substituted phenyl group, substituted with methyl or halogen, R.sup.15 represents lower alkyl, R.sup.16 represents methyl or halogen, m represents the integer 1, R.sup.17, R.sup.18, R.sup.19, R.sup.21 R.sup.22 and R.sup.23 represent hydrogen, and R.sup.20 represents hydroxy. 17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the thiazolidin-4-one derivative is selected from the group consisting of: 5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-phenyl-t- hiazolidin-4-one, {2-[4-(2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-4-oxo-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-[Z]-ylidenemethy- l)-phenoxy]-ethoxy}-acetic acid, 5-{4-[2-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-ethoxy]-benz[Z]ylidene}-2-([Z]-isopropyli- mino)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3- -phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-fluoro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3- -phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-3-methyl-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3- -phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-3-methoxy-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-- 3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[4-(3-hydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-phenyl-- thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-phe- nyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimi- no)-3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-o-tolyl-- thiazolidin-4-one, 5-{4-[2-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-ethoxy]-benz[Z]ylidene}-2-([Z]-isopropyli- mino)-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3- -o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-3-methoxy-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-- 3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[4-(3-hydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-o-tolyl- -thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimi- no)-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-m-tolyl-- thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3- -m-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimi- no)-3-m-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-p-tolyl-- thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3- -p-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimi- no)-3-p-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-is- opropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-{4-[2-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-ethoxy]-benz[Z]ylidene}-3-(2,3-dimethyl-p- henyl)-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-- 2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-5-[3-fluoro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-- 2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-3-methyl-benz[Z]ylidene]-- 2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-3-methoxy-benz[Z]ylidene]- -2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-(2,3-dimethyl-phe- nyl)-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 3-(2,4-dimethyl-phenyl)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-is- opropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 3-(2,6-dimethyl-phenyl)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-is- opropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 3-(2-chloro-phenyl)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopro- pylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-(2-chloro-phenyl)-2-([- Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-(2-chloro-phenyl)- -2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-(2-metho- xy-phenyl)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3- -(2-methoxy-phenyl)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-(4-metho- xy-phenyl)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3- -(4-methoxy-phenyl)-thiazolidin-4-one, 3-allyl-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-th- iazolidin-4-one, 3-allyl-5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropyl- imino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 3-allyl-5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isop- ropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-2-([Z]-propylimino)-thia- zolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-2-([Z]-propylim- ino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-3-methyl-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-2-([Z]-propylim- ino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-2-([Z]-pro- pylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-propylimino)-3-o-tolyl-thi- azolidin-4-one, 5-[4-(3-hydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-propylimino)-3-o-tolyl-th- iazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-propylimino)-3-o-- tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-3-methyl-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-propylimino)-3-o-- tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-propylimino)- -3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, (R)-5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-propylim- ino)-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, (S)-5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-propylim- ino)-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-pr- opylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-{4-[2-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-ethoxy]-benz[Z]ylidene}-3-(2,3-dimethyl-p- henyl)-2-([Z]-propylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-- 2-([Z]-propylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-3-methyl-benz[Z]ylidene]-- 2-([Z]-propylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-3-methoxy-benz[Z]ylidene]- -2-([Z]-propylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-2-([- Z]-propylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-(2,3-dimethyl-phe- nyl)-2-([Z]-propylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 2-([Z]-tert-butylimino)-5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-- 3-phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 2-(dimethyl-hydrazono)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-t- hiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-(dimethyl-hydrazono)-3- -phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 2-([Z]-ethylimino)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-thiaz- olidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-ethylimino)-3-phe- nyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 2-([Z]-ethylimino)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-o-tolyl-thia- zolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-ethylimino)-3-o-t- olyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-2-([Z]-ethylimino)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z- ]ylidene]-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-- 2-([Z]-ethylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 2-([Z]-butylimino)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-thiaz- olidin-4-one, 2-([Z]-butylimino)-5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phe- nyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 2-([Z]-butylimino)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-o-tolyl-thia- zolidin-4-one, 2-([Z]-butylimino)-5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-o-t- olyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 2-([Z]-butylimino)-3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z- ]ylidene]-thiazolidin-4-one, 2-([Z]-butylimino)-5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-(2,- 3-dimethyl-phenyl)-thiazolidin-4-one, 2-([Z]-sec-butylimino)-5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3- -phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 2-([Z]-cyclopropylimino)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl- -thiazolidin-4-one, 3-cyclohexyl-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimin- o)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-cyclohexyl-2-([Z]-isop- ropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-isopropyl-2-([Z]-isopropylimino- )-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-isopropyl-2-([Z]-isopr- opylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-isopropyl-2-([Z]-- isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 2-([Z]-allylimino)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-thiaz- olidin-4-one, 2-([Z]-allylimino)-5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phe- nyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 3-allyl-2-([Z]-allylimino)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-thiazo- lidin-4-one, 3-allyl-2-([Z]-allylimino)-5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]yliden- e]-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-methylimino)-3-ph- enyl-thiazolidin-4-one, and 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-- 2-([Z]-methylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one. 18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the thiazolidin-4-one derivative is selected from the group consisting of: 5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3-phenyl-t- hiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-3- -phenyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-isopropylimi- no)-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-- 2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-(2,3-dimethyl-phe- nyl)-2-([Z]-isopropylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-2-([Z]-propylim- ino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-3-methyl-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-2-([Z]-propylim- ino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-2-([Z]-pro- pylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-propylimino)- -3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, (R)-5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-propylim- ino)-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, (S)-5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-propylim- ino)-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-- 2-([Z]-propylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-(2,3-dimethyl-phe- nyl)-2-([Z]-propylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, 2-(dimethyl-hydrazono)-5-[4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-phenyl-t- hiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-ethylimino)-3-phe- nyl-thiazolidin-4-one, 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-(2,3-dimethyl-phenyl)-- 2-([Z]-ethylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one, and 5-[3-chloro-4-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-3-isopropyl-2-([Z]-isopr- opylimino)-thiazolidin-4-one. 19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the thiazolidin-4-one derivative is (R)-5-[3-chloro-4-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxy)-benz[Z]ylidene]-2-([Z]-propylim- ino)-3-o-tolyl-thiazolidin-4-one. 20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the lymphocytes are T- and B-lymphocytes. 21. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lymphocytes are T- and B-lymphocytes.