Inhibitors of interleukin-2 inducible T-cell kinase as potential therapeutic candidates for the treatment of various inflammatory disease conditions.

Interleukin-2 inducible T-cell kinase (ITK), a member of Tec family of non-receptor protein tyrosine kinases plays a domineering role in the T-cell development, differentiation and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13 and IL-17. This kinase is also an important contributor in Th 2 cells mediated autoimmune and allergic disease conditions, e.g. psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and allergic asthma. ITK modulates T-cell signaling by activating PLCγ1 and regulating the extent of Ca²⁺ flux. It contributes in prolific T-cell responses by maintaining cellular adhesion and cytoskeleton reorganization via actin polymerization and integrin binding. This review article describes the structure of ITK and its role in T-cell signaling. In addition to this, data regarding small molecule inhibitors of ITK has also been reviewed from different papers and patents published.