Anti-inflammatory agents

A method for reducing IL-6 and/or VCAM-1 in a subject, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of Formula V:

• or a stereoisomer, tautomer, pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or hydrate thereof, wherein:
• Q is selected from CR6 and nitrogen;
• U is selected from C═O, C=S, SO2, S═O, SRi, CRi R2, CR1OR2, and CR1SR2;
• Y is selected from oxygen, sulfur, NR6, and CR6R7;
• A is C1-C4 alkyl, wherein the alkyl chain may be connected to Y, D, Rb3 and/or Rb5 to form a cycloalkyl or heterocycle;
• D may be absent or present, and if present is selected from ORi, NR1 R2,
• R1 and R2 are independently selected from hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C3-C6 cycloalkyl, sulfonamide, carboxamide, acyl, and nitrile, wherein R1 and R2 may be connected to form a cycloalkyl or a heterocycle;
• R6 and R7 are independently selected from hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C3-C6 cycloalkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, hydroxyl, and halogen;
• Ra2 and Ra3 are independently selected from hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, C3-C6 cycloalkyl, halogen, amino, amide, hydroxyl, and heterocycle, wherein Rai and Ra2 and/or Ra2 and Ra3 may be connected to form a cycloalkyl or a heterocycle;
• Ra1 is C1-C6 alkoxy;
• Rb2 and Rb6 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, C1-C6 alkyl, and C3-C6 cycloalkyl;
• and
• Rb3 is selected from hydrogen, halogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C3-C6 cycloalkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, hydroxyl, and amino, wherein
• Rb2 and Rb3 and/or Rb5 and Rb6 may be connected to form a cycloalkyl or a heterocycle,
• provided that
• at least one of Rai, Ra2, and Ra3 is not hydrogen;
• and
• if Ra1 and Ra3 are both hydrogen, and Y is NR6, then Ra2 is not hydrogen, —OAc, or —OMe.