The adenine-containing carbocyclic nucleosides (1) under bar and (2) under bar were synthesized in optically active form and have been shown to effectively inhibit interferon-gamma priming of Lewis (LEW/N) rat air pouch-derived PMNs. Compound (2) under bar was also shown to have in vivo activity in a LEW/N rat antigen-induced arthritis model which assesses acute and chronic inflammation.