[CCR5, a new target of anti-HIV drugs]

CCR5, a membrane protein on cell surface, is a member of the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily and one of the major co-receptors for HIV-1 infection. The roles of CCR5 in HIV-1 infection have been elucidated since 1996. Because of the biological nature of CCR5, it has became a molecular target for the novel drugs against HIV-1. Antagonists for CCR5 could be grouped as following, chemokine derivatives, small molecule non-peptide compounds, monoclonal antibodies and peptides. The latest progress in this field is reviewed in this article.