Computational study of the structural ensemble of CC chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) and its interactions with different ligands

PLoS One. 2022 Oct 17;17(10):e0275269. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275269. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

CC Chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5), a member of the Superfamily of G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs), is an important effector in multiple physiopathological processes such as inflammatory and infectious entities, including central nervous system neuroinflammatory diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, recovery from nervous injuries, and in the HIV-AIDS infective processes. Thus, CCR5 is an attractive target for pharmacological modulation. Since maraviroc was described as a CCR5 ligand that modifies the HIV-AIDS progression, multiple efforts have been developed to describe the functionality of the receptor. In this work, we characterized key structural features of the CCR5 receptor employing extensive atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) in its apo form and in complex with an endogenous agonist, the chemokine CCL5/RANTES, an HIV entry inhibitor, the partial inverse agonist maraviroc, and the experimental antagonists Compound 21 and 34, aiming to elucidate the structural features and mechanistic processes that constitute its functional states, contributing with structural details and a general understanding of this relevant system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • CCR5 Receptor Antagonists / pharmacology
  • CCR5 Receptor Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Chemokine CCL5 / pharmacology
  • HIV Fusion Inhibitors*
  • HIV Infections* / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Imidazoles
  • Ligands
  • Maraviroc / therapeutic use
  • Receptors, CCR5
  • Sulfonamides
  • Thiophenes

Substances

  • CCR5 Receptor Antagonists
  • CCR5 protein, human
  • Chemokine CCL5
  • HIV Fusion Inhibitors
  • Imidazoles
  • Ligands
  • Receptors, CCR5
  • Sulfonamides
  • Thiophenes
  • Maraviroc
  • compound 21

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACyT) in the form of a fellowships to GG-R [749523/857743] and LD [A1-S-8866], and by the Dirección General de Cómputo y de Tecnologías de Información in the form of support and supercomputer facilities to LD [LANCAD-UNAM-DGTIC-306]. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.