Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel (4 or 5-aryl)pyrazolyl-indoles as inhibitors of interleukin-2 inducible T-cell kinase (ITK).

Interleukin-2 inducible T-cell kinase (ITK) is one of five kinases that belong to the Tec kinase family that plays an important role in T-cell and mast cell signaling. Various reports point to a role of ITK in the treatment of allergic asthma. For example, it was shown that mice lacking ITK have reduced airway hyperresponsiveness, inflammation and tracheal responses in an allergic asthma model.