Host Tyrosine Kinase Signaling and Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors as Candidate Host-Directed Therapies for Tuberculosis.

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major global public health issue. Although current anti-TB treatment regimens are effective, challenges such as prolonged treatment durations, high drug toxicity, and drug resistance remain, necessitating the development of new therapeutic targets and drugs. Host-directed therapy (HDT), which enhances the body's immune response to boost resistance against Mtb infection, has become a promising treatment strategy. Protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) play a critical role in cellular signal transduction, and their aberrant activation is linked to the onset of various diseases. Research on PTKs as drug targets has made significant progress, with studies showing that tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) influence the intracellular survival of Mtb by modulating immune responses and altering cellular signaling pathways. This review summarizes the signaling mechanisms of PTKs in Mtb infection and the potential of their inhibitors in regulating host immune responses, proposing new immune therapeutic strategies targeting PTKs for TB treatment.