HIV chemokine receptor inhibitors as novel anti-HIV drugs
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Development of Cell-type specific anti-HIV gp120 aptamers for siRNA delivery
Published on: June 23, 2011
Katrien Princen1, Dominique Schols
1Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Rega Institute for Medical Research, University of Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 10, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. katrien.princen@rega.kuleuven.ac.be
Abstract:
The chemokine receptors CXCR4 and CCR5 are the main coreceptors used by the T-cell-tropic (CXCR4-using, X4) and macrophage-tropic (CCR5-using, R5) HIV-1 strains, respectively, for entering their CD4+ target cells. In this review, we focus on the function of these chemokine receptors in HIV infection and their role as novel targets for viral inhibition. Besides some modified chemokines with antiviral activity, several low-molecular weight CCR5 and CXCR4 antagonistic compounds have been described with potent antiviral activity. The best CXCR4 antagonists described are the bicyclam derivatives, which consistently block X4 but also R5/X4 viral replication in PBMCs. We believe that chemokine receptor antagonists will become important new antiviral drugs to combat AIDS. Both CXCR4 and CCR5 chemokine receptor inhibitors will be needed in combination and even in combinations of antiviral drugs that also target other aspects of the HIV replication cycle to obtain optimum antiviral therapeutic effects.
More Related Videos
12:03Evaluation of the Efficacy And Toxicity of RNAs Targeting HIV-1 Production for Use in Gene or Drug Therapy
Published on: September 5, 2016
10:29Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship, Activity Prediction, and Molecular Dynamics of Non-nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
Published on: May 9, 2025
Related Concept Videos
Retrovirus Life Cycles
Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis
Inhibitors Of Virion Release
Antiviral Nucleoside Inhibitors
Inhibitors of Virion Maturation and Assembly