Inhibitors of switch kinase ‘spleen tyrosine kinase’ in inflammation and immune-mediated disorders: A review

•The structure and biology of Syk have been described.•Role of Syk in immune cell signaling has been discussed.•This review also includes data regarding small molecule Syk inhibitors.

Spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk), a member of Syk family of non-receptor protein tyrosine kinases plays a significant role in the immune cell signaling in B cells, mast cells, macrophages and neutrophils. Anomalous regulation of this kinase can lead to different allergic disorders and antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, psoriasis and allergic rhinitis. Being involved in the growth and survive mechanism of B cells, its inhibition can be beneficial in B-cell lymphoma. Thus, Syk can be sited as a therapeutically relevant target for various allergic and autoimmune disorders. This review article describes the structure of Syk and its role in B-cell signaling. In addition to this, data regarding small molecule inhibitors of Syk has also been reviewed from different papers and patents published.

Graphical abstractSpleen tyrosine kinase (Syk), non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase plays a significant role in the immune cell signaling, that can be sited as a therapeutically relevant target for various allergic and autoimmune disorders.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide