Current drug design of anti-HIV agents through the inhibition of C-C chemokine receptor type 5

Curr Comput Aided Drug Des. 2011 Dec;7(4):238-48. doi: 10.2174/157340911798260287.

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the responsible causal agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in humans in which the immune system begins to fail, allowing the entry of opportunistic infections. HIV infection in humans is considered pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). HIV needs to use a protein as a co-receptor to enter its target cells. Several chemokine receptors can in principle act as viral co-receptors, but the chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 5 (CCR5) is likely the most physiologically important co-receptor during natural infection. For this reason the development of new CCR5 inhibitors like anti-HIV agents, constitutes a challenge for the scientific community. The present review will focus on the current state of the design of novel anti-HIV drugs, and how the existing computer aided-drug design methodologies, have been effective in the search of new anti-HIV agents. In addition, a QSAR model based on substructural descirptors is presented as a rapid, rational and promising alternative for the discovery of anti-HIV agents through the inhibition of the CCR5.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-HIV Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Anti-HIV Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-HIV Agents / therapeutic use*
  • CCR5 Receptor Antagonists*
  • Computer-Aided Design / trends*
  • Drug Design*
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy
  • HIV Infections / metabolism
  • HIV-1 / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Receptors, CCR5 / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • CCR5 Receptor Antagonists
  • Receptors, CCR5