This invention relates to 4-substituted .beta.-carbolines and .beta.-carboline analogs that inhibit Ca.sup.+2 influx and interleukin-2 (IL-2) production. The 4-substituted .beta.-carbolines and .beta.-carboline analogs of this invention are represented by formula (I): ##STR1## wherein Q, n, R, R', R" and R.sub.1 -R.sub.4 are as defined herein. This invention also relates to methods for producing .beta.-carbolines. Because of their selective immunomodulating properties, the compounds and pharmaceutical compositions of this invention are particularly well suited for preventing and treating immune disorders, including autoimmune disease, inflammatory disease, organ transplant rejection and other disorders associated with IL-2 mediated immune response.
                            这项发明涉及抑制Ca.sup.+2通量和白细胞介素-2(I
L-2)产生的4-取代β-咔啉和β-咔啉类似物。本发明的4-取代β-咔啉和β-咔啉类似物由以下式(I)表示:##STR1## 其中Q、n、R、R'、R"和R.sub.1-R.sub.4如本文所定义。本发明还涉及制备β-咔啉的方法。由于它们具有选择性免疫调节特性,本发明的化合物和药物组合特别适用于预防和治疗免疫紊乱,包括自身免疫疾病、炎症性疾病、器官移植排斥和其他与I
L-2介导的免疫反应相关的疾病。