Methods for preventing and treating autoimmune and inflammatory disease using thioether furan nitrone compounds

A method for preventing the onset of an autoimmune or inflammatory disease in a patient at risk for developing an autoimmune or inflammatory disease which method comprises:

• (a) identifying a patient at risk for developing an autoimmune or inflammatory disease;
• (b) administering to said patient a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and an effective autoimmune or inflammatory disease-preventing amount of a compound of formula I:
• wherein
• R1 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl, cyloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl and cycloalkenyl;
• each R2 is independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, cycloalkyl and halo;
• R3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl and cycloalkylalkyl;
• R4 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl and cycloalkenyl;
• and
• n is an integer ranging from 0 to 2;
• and optical isomers and racemates thereof, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.