Non-peptidic chemokine receptors antagonists as emerging anti-HIV agents

HIV entry within the cell involves the presence of at least two chemokine co-receptors, the CCR5 and CXCR4 receptors. Viral entry can be inhibited by the natural ligands for CXCR4, the CXC chemokine SDF-1 and CCR5, the CC chemokines RANTES, MIP-1alpha and MIP-1beta, respectively. Much research has been devoted ultimately to the development of small molecule chemokine antagonists that inhibit virus entry within the cell, and constitute in this way novel antiviral medications. The most potent and specific CXCR4 antagonists reported up to now are the bicyclam derivatives, which also potently block X4 HIV replication. One such compound, AMD3100 has proved to be a highly specific CXCR4 antagonist, which consistently blocks the outgrowth of all X4 HIV and dual-tropic (R5/X4) variants that use CXCR4 for entering the cells. From such bicyclam analogues, AMD3100 was selected as the clinical candidate, which, after initial Phase I studies, proceeded to Phase II trials, but unfortunately showed significant cardiac side effects which lead to its withdrawal from further development. The first nonpeptidic compound that interacts with CCR5, but not with CXCR4, is a quaternary ammonium derivative, TAK-779, which also shows potent but variable anti-HIV activity. A large number of potent CCR5 antagonists from several classes of polycyclic derivatives have been recently disclosed. Many such derivatives showed nanomolar binding affinity to the receptor, and at least one of them, the oxime-piperidine derivative SCH-351125 has progressed to clinical evaluation. The development of such agents for clinical use may constitute an additional approach for the treatment of HIV infection, in addition to the classical one involving reverse transcriptase and protease inhibitors.