Biomedical subjects

Kurt Vermeire

Publications and source records attributed to Kurt Vermeire.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2025

Generation of Biologically Contained Marburg Virus.

Wild-type Marburg virus (MARV) can only be handled in biosafety level 4 facilities. By removing an essential gene from the virus genome, deficient virus particles can be generated that are only capable of replication if the missing gene product is provided in trans. As a result, these viruses are restricted to specific cell lines, making them safe to handle at lower biosafety levels. Here, we provide a detailed overview of how to generate MARV in which the VP30 gene has been replaced by a green fluorescent reporter gene, as well as how to use lentiviral transduction to create stable cell lines expressing MARV VP30. These cell lines can be used for the propagation and confinement of the resulting reporter virus.

Marburgvirus↗

PubMed2006

Resistance of HIV-1 to the broadly HIV-1-neutralizing, anti-carbohydrate antibody 2G12.

The 2G12 mAb inhibits the infection of HIV-1 laboratory-adapted viruses at 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC(50)) ranging from 0.02 to 0.2 microg/ml when evaluated in different cell-types. However, isolates from various HIV-1 subtypes (such as clade C, D, A/E, F and group O) were not inhibited by 2G12 mAb (IC(50) >20 microg/ml). 2G12 mAb pressure in HIV-1 IIIB- and NL4.3-infected T cell cultures selected for resistant viruses containing only few (1 to 3 N-glycosylation) deletions in gp120. The 2G12-resistant viruses keep their full sensitivity to various mannose-specific lectins and other known HIV entry inhibitors. Moreover, we observed that the NL4.3-2G12-resistant virus, with the N295K mutation in gp120, became significantly more sensitive to several mannose-specific lectins. This is, to our knowledge, the first report showing that a resistant virus generated in vitro against a neutralizing mAb and containing a mutation in gp120, has increased sensitivity to another class of HIV entry inhibitors.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

PubMed2006

Carbohydrate-binding agents efficiently prevent dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN)-directed HIV-1 transmission to T lymphocytes.

Exposure of HIV-1 to dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN)-expressing B-lymphoblast Raji cells (Raji/DC-SIGN) but not to wild-type Raji/0 cells results in the capture of HIV-1 particles to the cells as measured by the quantification of cell-associated p24 antigen. Cocultivation of HIV-1-captured Raji/DC-SIGN cells with uninfected CD4+ T lymphocyte C8166 cells results in abundant formation of syncytia within 36 h after cocultivation. Short preexposure of HIV-1 to carbohydrate-binding agents (CBA) dose dependently prevents the Raji/DC-SIGN cells from efficiently binding the virus particles, and no syncytia formation occurs upon subsequent cocultivation with C8166 cells. Thus, the mannose-specific [i.e., the plant lectins Hippeastrum hybrid agglutinin (HHA), Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA), Narcissus pseudonarcissus agglutinin; and Cymbidium agglutinin (CA); the procaryotic cyanovirin-N (CV-N); and the monoclonal antibody 2G12) and N-acetylglucosamine-specific (i.e., the plant lectin Urtica dioica agglutinin) CBAs efficiently abrogate the DC-SIGN-directed HIV-1 capture and subsequent transmission to T lymphocytes. In this assay, the CD4-down-regulating cyclotriazodisulfonamide derivative, the CXCR4 and CCR5 coreceptor antagonists 1-[[4-(1,4,8,11-tetrazacyclotetradec-1-ylmethyl)phenyl]methyl] - 1,4,8,11 - tetrazacyclotetradecane (AMD3100) and maraviroc, the gp41-binding enfuvirtide, and the polyanionic substances dextran sulfate (M(r) 5000), sulfated polyvinyl alcohol, and the naphthalene sulfonate polymer PRO-2000 were markedly less efficient or even completely ineffective. Similar observations were made in primary monocyte-derived dendritic cell cultures that were infected with HIV-1 particles that had been shortly pre-exposed to the CBAs CV-N, CA, HHA, and GNA and the polyanions DS-5000 and PRO-2000. The potential of CBAs, but not polyanions and other structural/functional classes of entry inhibitors, to impair DC-SIGN-expressing cells in their capacity of transmitting HIV to T lymphocytes might be an important property to be taken into consideration in the eventual choice to move microbicide candidate drugs to the clinical setting.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

PubMed2006

Synthesis and structure-activity relationship studies of CD4 down-modulating cyclotriazadisulfonamide (CADA) analogues.

HIV attachment via the CD4 receptor is an important target for developing novel approaches to HIV chemotherapy. Cyclotriazadisulfonamide (CADA) inhibits HIV at submicromolar levels by specifically down-modulating cell-surface and intracellular CD4. An effective five-step synthesis of CADA in 30% overall yield is reported. This synthesis has also been modified to produce more than 50 analogues. Many tail-group analogues have been made by removing the benzyl tail of CADA and replacing it with various alkyl, acyl, alkoxycarbonyl and aminocarbonyl substituents. A series of sidearm analogues, including two unsymmetrical compounds, have also been prepared by modifying the CADA synthesis, replacing the toluenesulfonyl sidearms with other sulfonyl groups. Testing 30 of these compounds in MT-4 cells shows a wide range of CD4 down-modulation potency, which correlates with ability to inhibit HIV-1. Three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) models were constructed using comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA) approaches. The X-ray crystal structures of four compounds, including CADA, show the same major conformation of the central 12-membered ring. The solid-state structure of CADA was energy minimized and used to generate the remaining 29 structures, which were similarly minimized and aligned to produce the 3D-QSAR models. Both models indicate that steric bulk of the tail group, and, to a lesser extent, the sidearms mainly determine CD4 down-modulation potency in this series of compounds.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

PubMed2006

Inhibitors of HIV infection via the cellular CD4 receptor.

Recent advances in our understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms of viral penetration of the target cell have provided the basis for novel chemotherapy and prophylaxis of HIV-1 infections. This knowledge has been successfully applied to the development of inhibitors that target discrete steps of the entry process. Interesting approaches for prevention of HIV-1 entry include the use of small-molecule inhibitors, natural ligands and/or monoclonal antibodies that interfere with gp120/CD4 interaction. Other compounds acting by novel mechanisms have recently been identified as anti-HIV agents and seem worthy of further preclinical development. Of particular interest in this regard are cyclotriazadisulfonamide (CADA) compounds, which down-modulate the cellular receptor, CD4. A series of analogues of 9-benzyl-3-methylene-1,5-di-p-toluenesulfonyl-1,5,9-triazacyclododecane (CADA) has been synthesized and tested for CD4 down-modulation and anti-HIV activity. Some derivatives proved to be highly effective in decreasing cellular CD4 and in acting as HIV entry inhibitors. Three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) studies correlating molecular features with potency have been used to produce a computational model. This model can be used to design more potent CD4 down-modulating drugs for HIV therapy and prophylaxis. This review summarizes the results of recent studies relating to inhibitors of HIV infection via CD4 and discusses the therapeutic potential of targeting this cellular receptor. Special attention is given to our own work on small-molecule HIV entry inhibitors endowed with CD4 down-modulating properties.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

PubMed2005

Pro-inflammatory properties of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (CXCL12) in collagen-induced arthritis.

CXCL12 (stromal cell-derived factor 1) is a unique biological ligand for the chemokine receptor CXCR4. We previously reported that treatment with a specific CXCR4 antagonist, AMD3100, exerts a beneficial effect on the development of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in the highly susceptible IFN-gamma receptor-deficient (IFN-gammaR KO) mouse. We concluded that CXCL12 plays a central role in the pathogenesis of CIA in IFN-gammaR KO mice by promoting delayed type hypersensitivity against the auto-antigen and by interfering with chemotaxis of CXCR4+ cells to the inflamed joints. Here, we investigated whether AMD3100 can likewise inhibit CIA in wild-type mice and analysed the underlying mechanism. Parenteral treatment with the drug at the time of onset of arthritis reduced disease incidence and modestly inhibited severity in affected mice. This beneficial effect was associated with reduced serum concentrations of IL-6. AMD3100 did not affect anti-collagen type II antibodies and, in contrast with its action in IFN-gammaR KO mice, did not inhibit the delayed type hypersensitivity response against collagen type II, suggesting that the beneficial effect cannot be explained by inhibition of humoral or cellular autoimmune responses. AMD3100 inhibited the in vitro chemotactic effect of CXCL12 on splenocytes, as well as in vivo leukocyte infiltration in CXCL12-containing subcutaneous air pouches. We also demonstrate that, in addition to its effect on cell infiltration, CXCL12 potentiates receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand-induced osteoclast differentiation from splenocytes and increases the calcium phosphate-resorbing capacity of these osteoclasts, both processes being potently counteracted by AMD3100. Our observations indicate that CXCL12 acts as a pro-inflammatory factor in the pathogenesis of autoimmune arthritis by attracting inflammatory cells to joints and by stimulating the differentiation and activation of osteoclasts.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Cyclotriazadisulfonamides: promising new CD4-targeted anti-HIV drugs.

It is imperative to continue efforts to identify novel effective therapies that can assist in containing the spread of HIV. Recently acquired knowledge about the HIV entry process points to new strategies to block viral entry. For most HIV strains, the successful infection of their target cells is mainly dependent on the presence of the CD4 surface molecule, which serves as the primary virus receptor. The attachment of the viral envelope to this cellular CD4 receptor can be considered as an ideal target with multiple windows of opportunity for therapeutic intervention. Therefore, drugs that interfere with the CD4 receptor, and thus inhibit viral entry, may be promising agents for the treatment of AIDS. The CD4-targeted HIV entry inhibitors cyclotriazadisulfonamides represent a novel class of small molecule antiviral agents with a unique mode of action. The lead compound, CADA, specifically interacts with the cellular CD4 receptor and is active against a wide variety of HIV strains at submicromolar levels when evaluated in different cell-types such as T cells, monocytes and dendritic cells. Moreover, a strict correlation has been demonstrated between anti-HIV activity and CD4 interaction of about 20 different CADA analogues. In addition, CADA acted synergistically in combination with all other FDA-approved anti-HIV drugs as well as with compounds that target the main HIV co-receptors. In this article, the characteristics of cyclotriazadisulfonamide compounds are presented and the possible application of CADA as a microbicide is also discussed.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

PubMed2005

Sugar-binding proteins potently inhibit dendritic cell human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection and dendritic-cell-directed HIV-1 transfer.

Both endocytic uptake and viral fusion can lead to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transfer to CD4+ lymphocytes, either through directional regurgitation (infectious transfer in trans [I-IT]) or through de novo viral production in dendritic cells (DCs) resulting in a second-phase transfer to CD4+ lymphocytes (infectious second-phase transfer [I-SPT]). We have evaluated in immature monocyte-derived DCs both pathways of transfer with regard to their susceptibilities to being blocked by potential microbicidal compounds, including cyanovirin (CNV); the plant lectins Hippeastrum hybrid agglutinin, Galanthus nivalis agglutinin, Urtica dioica agglutinin, and Cymbidium hybrid agglutinin; and the glycan mannan. I-IT was a relatively inefficient means of viral transfer compared to I-SPT at both high and low levels of the viral inoculum. CNV was able to completely block I-IT at 15 microg/ml. All other compounds except mannan could inhibit I-IT by at least 90% when used at doses of 15 microg/ml. In contrast, efficient inhibition of I-SPT was remarkably harder to achieve, as 50% effective concentration levels for plant lectins and CNV to suppress this mode of HIV-1 transfer increased significantly. Thus, our findings indicate that I-SPT may be more elusive to targeting by antiviral drugs and stress the need for drugs affecting the pronounced inhibition of the infection of DCs by HIV-1.

Bacterial Proteins↗

PubMed2005

Anti-HIV agents targeting the interaction of gp120 with the cellular CD4 receptor.

Perhaps one of the most effective approaches to prevent and inhibit viral infections is to block host cell receptors that are used by viruses to gain cell entry. Major advances have been made over the past decade in the understanding of the molecular mechanism of HIV entry into target cells. A crucial step in this entry process is the interaction of the external HIV envelope glycoprotein, gp120, with the cellular CD4 receptor molecule. This binding step represents a potential target for new antiviral agents, and current efforts to develop safe and effective HIV entry inhibitors are focused on natural ligands and/or monoclonal antibodies that interfere with gp120/CD4 interaction. Also, small synthetic compounds obtained either by high-throughput screening of large compound libraries or by structure-guided rational design have recently entered the antiretroviral arena. In this review, the anti-HIV activity of novel entry inhibitors targeting gp120/CD4 interaction is outlined, and special attention is given to the cyclotriazadisulfonamide compounds, which are the most specific CD4-targeted antiviral drugs described so far.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

CADA, a novel CD4-targeted HIV inhibitor, is synergistic with various anti-HIV drugs in vitro.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anti-HIV-1 activity of the cyclotriazadisulfonamide CADA against primary isolates in vitro and the combination of CADA with approved anti-HIV drugs for potential synergy. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were treated with CADA and infected with 16 different clinical isolates. After 8 days of infection, the median inhibitory concentration (IC50) was calculated from the p24 viral antigen content in the supernatant. MT-4 cells were infected with HIV-1NL4.3 and then cultured with CADA or other antiretroviral drugs (i.e., several reverse transcriptase, protease and entry inhibitors), alone and in combination. After 4 days, IC50 was determined for the various drugs in replicate assays. Analysis of combined effects was performed using the median effect principle (CalcuSyn; Biosoft). RESULTS: The entry inhibitor CADA exerted a potent and consistent anti-HIV-1 activity against a wide range of R5, R5/X4 and X4 primary isolates in PBMC. From the two-drug studies, combination indices showed synergy between CADA and reverse transcriptase inhibitors (zidovudine, stavudine, lamivudine, zalcitabine, didanosine, abacavir, tenofovir, nevirapine, delavirdine and efavirenz), and protease inhibitors (lopinavir, saquinavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, amprenavir and ritonavir). In addition, the combination of CADA with the gp41 fusion inhibitor T-20 (enfuvirtide), the CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 and the gp120-specific interacting plant lectins from Galanthus nivalis (GNA) and Hippeastrum hybrid (HHA) also resulted in a synergistic inhibition. CONCLUSIONS: Compounds that can specifically downmodulate the CD4 receptor in PBMC have broad-spectrum anti-HIV activity against primary isolates and act synergistically when used in conjunction with currently available antiretroviral drugs. They deserve further study as potential candidate anti-HIV drugs.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

PubMed2004

Establishment of a novel CCR5 and CXCR4 expressing CD4+ cell line which is highly sensitive to HIV and suitable for high-throughput evaluation of CCR5 and CXCR4 antagonists.

BACKGROUND: CCR5 and CXCR4 are the two main coreceptors essential for HIV entry. Therefore, these chemokine receptors have become important targets in the search for anti-HIV agents. Here, we describe the establishment of a novel CD4+ cell line, U87.CD4.CCR5.CXCR4, stably expressing both CCR5 and CXCR4 at the cell surface. RESULTS: In these cells, intracellular calcium signalling through both receptors can be measured in a single experiment upon the sequential addition of CXCR4- and CCR5-directed chemokines. The U87.CD4.CCR5.CXCR4 cell line reliably supported HIV-1 infection of diverse laboratory-adapted strains and primary isolates with varying coreceptor usage (R5, X4 and R5/X4) and allows to investigate the antiviral efficacy of combined CCR5 and CXCR4 blockade. The antiviral effects recorded in these cells with the CCR5 antagonist SCH-C and the CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 were similar to those noted in the single CCR5- or CXCR4-transfected U87.CD4 cells. Furthermore, the combination of both inhibitors blocked the infection of all evaluated HIV-1 strains and isolates. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, the U87.CD4.CCR5.CXCR4 cell line should be useful in the evaluation of CCR5 and CXCR4 antagonists with therapeutic potential and combinations thereof.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

PubMed2004

Fluorescent CXCL12AF647 as a novel probe for nonradioactive CXCL12/CXCR4 cellular interaction studies.

BACKGROUND: Chemokines drive the migration of leukocytes via interaction with specific G protein-coupled 7-transmembrane receptors. The chemokine ligand/receptor pair stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1, CXCL12)/CXCR4 is gaining increasing interest because of its involvement in the metastasis of several types of cancer and in certain inflammatory autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, CXCR4 serves as an important coreceptor for cellular entry of T-tropic strains of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Therefore, potent and specific CXCR4 antagonists may have therapeutic potential as anti-HIV, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory drugs. METHODS AND RESULTS: Chemokine receptor antagonists can be identified by their ability to inhibit ligand binding to the receptor protein. Until now, chemokine binding assays were mostly performed with radiolabeled chemokine ligands such as [(125)I]CXCL12. To overcome the practical problems associated with such radioactive chemokine binding assays, we have developed a flow cytometric technique using a new, commercially available Alexa Fluor 647 conjugate of CXCL12 (CXCL12(AF647)). Calcium flux, chemotaxis, and p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation assays showed that the agonistic activity of the fluorescent CXCL12 was unchanged as compared with that of unlabeled CXCL12. Human T-lymphoid (CXCR4(+)) SupT1 cells and CXCR4-transfected, but not CCR5- or CXCR3-transfected, human astroglioma U87.CD4 cells specifically bound CXCL12(AF647) in a concentration-dependent manner. Unlabeled CXCL12 and the well-known CXCR4 inhibitors, AMD3100 and T22, blocked the binding of CXCL12(AF647) to SupT1 cells with 50% inhibitory concentrations of 92, 13, and 8 ng/ml, respectively. We have also used this method to evaluate CXCL12 binding and CXCR4 expression level in different subsets of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. CONCLUSION: CXCL12(AF647) is a valuable, more convenient alternative for [(125)I]CXCL12 in ligand/receptor interaction studies.

Calcium↗

PubMed2004

Mannose-specific plant lectins from the Amaryllidaceae family qualify as efficient microbicides for prevention of human immunodeficiency virus infection.

The plant lectins derived from Galanthus nivalis (Snowdrop) (GNA) and Hippeastrum hybrid (Amaryllis) (HHA) selectively inhibited a wide variety of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and HIV-2 strains and clinical (CXCR4- and CCR5-using) isolates in different cell types. They also efficiently inhibited infection of T lymphocytes by a variety of mutant virus strains. GNA and HHA markedly prevented syncytium formation between persistently infected HUT-78/HIV cells and uninfected T lymphocytes. The plant lectins did not measurably affect the antiviral activity of other clinically approved anti-HIV drugs used in the clinic when combined with these drugs. Short exposure of the lectins to cell-free virus particles or persistently HIV-infected HUT-78 cells markedly decreased HIV infectivity and increased the protective (microbicidal) activity of the plant lectins. Flow cytometric analysis and monoclonal antibody binding studies and a PCR-based assay revealed that GNA and HHA do not interfere with CD4, CXCR4, CCR5, and DC-SIGN and do not specifically bind with the membrane of uninfected cells. Instead, GNA and HHA likely interrupt the virus entry process by interfering with the virus envelope glycoprotein. HHA and GNA are odorless, colorless, and tasteless, and they are not cytotoxic, antimetabolically active, or mitogenic to human primary T lymphocytes at concentrations that exceed their antivirally active concentrations by 2 to 3 orders of magnitude. GNA and HHA proved stable at high temperature (50 degrees C) and low pH (5.0) for prolonged time periods and can be easily formulated in gel preparations for microbicidal use; they did not agglutinate human erythrocytes and were not toxic to mice when administered intravenously.

Agglutinins↗

PubMed2004

Profile of resistance of human immunodeficiency virus to mannose-specific plant lectins.

The mannose-specific plant lectins from the Amaryllidaceae family (e.g., Hippeastrum sp. hybrid and Galanthus nivalis) inhibit human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection of human lymphocytic cells in the higher nanogram per milliliter range and suppress syncytium formation between persistently HIV type 1 (HIV-1)-infected cells and uninfected CD4(+) T cells. These lectins inhibit virus entry. When exposed to escalating concentrations of G. nivalis and Hippeastrum sp. hybrid agglutinin, a variety of HIV-1(III(B)) strains were isolated after 20 to 40 subcultivations which showed a decreased sensitivity to the plant lectins. Several amino acid changes in the envelope glycoprotein gp120, but not in gp41, of the mutant virus isolates were observed. The vast majority of the amino acid changes occurred at the N glycosylation sites and at the S or T residues that are part of the N glycosylation motif. The degree of resistance to the plant lectins was invariably correlated with an increasing number of mutated glycosylation sites in gp120. The nature of these mutations was entirely different from that of mutations that are known to appear in HIV-1 gp120 under the pressure of other viral entry inhibitors such as dextran sulfate, bicyclams (i.e., AMD3100), and chicoric acid, which also explains the lack of cross-resistance of plant lectin-resistant viruses to any other HIV inhibitor including T-20 and the blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)-derived mannose-specific cyanovirin. The plant lectins represent a well-defined class of anti-HIV (microbicidal) drugs with a novel HIV drug resistance profile different from those of other existing anti-HIV drugs.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

PubMed2004

Inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus replication by a dual CCR5/CXCR4 antagonist.

Here we report that the N-pyridinylmethyl cyclam analog AMD3451 has antiviral activity against a wide variety of R5, R5/X4, and X4 strains of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and HIV-2 (50% inhibitory concentration [IC(50)] ranging from 1.2 to 26.5 microM) in various T-cell lines, CCR5- or CXCR4-transfected cells, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and monocytes/macrophages. AMD3451 also inhibited R5, R5/X4, and X4 HIV-1 primary clinical isolates in PBMCs (IC(50), 1.8 to 7.3 microM). A PCR-based viral entry assay revealed that AMD3451 blocks R5 and X4 HIV-1 infection at the virus entry stage. AMD3451 dose-dependently inhibited the intracellular Ca(2+) signaling induced by the CXCR4 ligand CXCL12 in T-lymphocytic cells and in CXCR4-transfected cells, as well as the Ca(2+) flux induced by the CCR5 ligands CCL5, CCL3, and CCL4 in CCR5-transfected cells. The compound did not interfere with chemokine-induced Ca(2+) signaling through CCR1, CCR2, CCR3, CCR4, CCR6, CCR9, or CXCR3 and did not induce intracellular Ca(2+) signaling by itself at concentrations up to 400 microM. In freshly isolated monocytes, AMD3451 inhibited the Ca(2+) flux induced by CXCL12 and CCL4 but not that induced by CCL2, CCL3, CCL5, and CCL7. The CXCL12- and CCL3-induced chemotaxis was also dose-dependently inhibited by AMD3451. Furthermore, AMD3451 inhibited CXCL12- and CCL3L1-induced endocytosis in CXCR4- and CCR5-transfected cells. AMD3451, in contrast to the specific CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100, did not inhibit but enhanced the binding of several anti-CXCR4 monoclonal antibodies (such as clone 12G5) at the cell surface, pointing to a different interaction with CXCR4. AMD3451 is the first low-molecular-weight anti-HIV agent with selective HIV coreceptor, CCR5 and CXCR4, interaction.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

PubMed2004

CD4 down-modulating compounds with potent anti-HIV activity.

The use of HAART with double or triple drug combinations has significantly improved the survival of AIDS patients. However, the emergence of virus-drug resistance and both short- and long-term drug-related side effects are among the main reasons for continuing the development of new classes of effective anti-HIV drugs that target the replicative cycle at different sites. In recent years, tremendous progress has been made in understanding HIV-1 entry, a multistep process that comprises viral attachment, coreceptor interactions and fusion. The mechanistic insight gained from these studies has enabled the design of specific agents that can inhibit each step in the HIV entry process. The successful results from clinical trials with enfuvirtide (T-20), the first approved entry inhibitor, indicate that targeting of HIV entry will soon be an important component of antiretroviral therapy and further encourage the development of effective entry inhibitors. In this article the recent developments of therapeutic agents endowed with inhibitory properties against the binding of the HIV envelope glycoprotein gp120 to the CD4 receptor (e.g., PRO 542, BMS-378806, TNX-355, PRO 2000 and CV-N) are briefly outlined. Major focus is placed on the anti-HIV activity of cyclotriazadisulfonamides (CADA), a novel class of compounds with a unique mode of action by down-modulating the CD4 receptor in lymphocytic and monocytic cells.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Specific CD4 down-modulating compounds with potent anti-HIV activity.

Despite the availability of the current clinically approved anti-HIV drugs, new classes of effective antiviral agents are still urgently needed to combat AIDS. A promising approach for drug development and vaccine design involves targeting research on HIV-1 entry, a multistep process that comprises viral attachment, coreceptor interactions, and fusion. Determination of the viral entry process in detail has enabled the design of specific agents that can inhibit each step in the HIV entry process. Therapeutic agents that interfere with the binding of the HIV envelope glycoprotein gp120 to the CD4 receptor (e.g., PRO 542, PRO 2000, and CV-N) or the coreceptors CCR5 and CXCR4 (e.g., SCH-C and AMD3100) are briefly outlined in this review. The anti-HIV activity of cyclotriazadisulfonamides, a novel class of compounds with a unique mode of action by down-modulating the CD4 receptor in lymphocytic and monocytic cells, is especially highlighted. On the basis of the successful results of T-20, the first approved entry inhibitor, the development of effective antiretrovirals that block HIV entry will certainly be further encouraged.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

PubMed2003

Mutations at the CXCR4 interaction sites for AMD3100 influence anti-CXCR4 antibody binding and HIV-1 entry.

The interaction of the CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 with its target is greatly influenced by specific aspartate residues in the receptor protein, including Asp(171) and Asp(262). We have now found that aspartate-to-asparagine substitutions at these positions differentially affect the binding of four different anti-CXCR4 monoclonal antibodies as well as the infectivity of diverse human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) strains and clinical isolates. Mutation of Asp(262) strongly decreased the coreceptor efficiency of CXCR4 for wild-type but not for AMD3100-resistant HIV-1 NL4.3. Thus, resistance of HIV-1 NL4.3 to AMD3100 is associated with a decreased dependence of the viral gp120 on Asp(262) of CXCR4, pointing to a different mode of interaction of wild-type versus AMD3100-resistant virus with CXCR4.

Amino Acid Sequence↗