Bruton's tyrosine kinase as a drug discovery target

Drug News Perspect. 2008 Sep;21(7):357-62. doi: 10.1358/dnp.2008.21.7.1255308.

Abstract

Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) is an important mediator in multiple signal transduction pathways. Fifteen years of research have revealed a complex role for Btk in hematopoietic cells. These studies suggest that Btk may be a promising target for therapeutic intervention for several complicated diseases. Inhibitors targeting the Btk kinase domain have been developed and show clear beneficial effects in animal models of rheumatoid arthritis, lymphoma and other diseases. Here, an overview of these studies is presented with an emphasis on results stemming from medicinal chemistry research.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Agammaglobulinaemia Tyrosine Kinase
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antirheumatic Agents / chemistry
  • Antirheumatic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antirheumatic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Drug Design*
  • Humans
  • Leukemia / drug therapy
  • Lymphoma / drug therapy
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Agammaglobulinaemia Tyrosine Kinase
  • BTK protein, human