All three compounds (e.g., TMP778) delay the onset of disease and substantially reduce the severity of disease progression compared to control-treated mice. Consistent with in vitro results, TMP778 treatment causes the most pronounced effect on the disease phenotype. This treatment not only decreases the number of mononuclear cells infiltrating the central nervous system (CNS), but also most strongly reduces the percentage of IL-17 T cells in the CNS (including IL-17 IFNγ). There is no significant change in the percentage IFNγ IL-17-T cells in the CNS among all groups, indicating that none of the inhibitors affects Th1 responses. TMP778 strongly inhibits Th17 cell generation, reduces IL-17 production from differentiated Th17 cells, and also dramatically ameliorates the progression of EAE.