The invention is directed to methods to inhibit p38-α kinase using compounds of formula (1), and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, or a pharmaceutical composition thereof, wherein (a) represents a single or double bond; one Z2 is CA or CR8A and the other is CR1, CR12, NR6 or N wherein each R?1, R6 and R8¿ is independently hydrogen or noninterfering substituent; A is -W¿i?-COXjY wherein Y is COR?2¿ or an isostere thereof and R2 is hydrogen or a noninterfering substituent, each of W and X is a spacer of 2-6Å, and each of i and j is independently 0 or 1; Z?3 is NR7¿ or O; each R3 is independently a noninterfering substituent; n is 0-3; each of L?1 and L2¿ is a linker; each R4 is independently a noninterfering substituent; m is 0-4; Z?1 is CR5¿ or N wherein R5 is hydrogen or a noninterfering substituent; each of l and k is an integer from 0-2 wherein the sum of l and k is 0-3; Ar is an aryl group substituted with 0-5 noninterfering substituents, wherein two noninterfering substituents can form a fused ring; and the distance between the atom of Ar linked to L2 and the center of the α ring is 4.5-24Å.