TREATMENT OF DISEASES ASSOCIATED WITH CYTOKINE PRODUCTION WITH INHIBITORS OF THE TEC FAMILY OF PROTEIN TYROSINE KINASES

摘要

The present invention relates to a method of treating a condition comprising administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of an inhibitor of the Tec family of protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs). The condition is typically associated with cytokine production. Conditions addressed by the invention include sepsis, septic shock, inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease. In one embodiment, the condition is induced by zymosan. The invention also provides the use of an inhibitor of a member or members of the Tec family of PTKs in the manufacture of a medicament for use in the treatment of a condition associated with cytokine production and methods for identifying an inhibitor of a member or members of the Tec family of PTKs which is also suitable for use in the treatment of a condition associated with stimulus-induced cytokine production.