Structure-Based Design and Development of Chemical Probes Targeting Putative MOR-CCR5 Heterodimers to Inhibit Opioid Exacerbated HIV-1 Infectivity

J Med Chem. 2021 Jun 10;64(11):7702-7723. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00408. Epub 2021 May 23.

Abstract

Crystal structures of ligand-bound G-protein-coupled receptors provide tangible templates for rationally designing molecular probes. Herein, we report the structure-based design, chemical synthesis, and biological investigations of bivalent ligands targeting putative mu opioid receptor C-C motif chemokine ligand 5 (MOR-CCR5) heterodimers. The bivalent ligand VZMC013 possessed nanomolar level binding affinities for both the MOR and CCR5, inhibited CCL5-stimulated calcium mobilization, and remarkably improved anti-HIV-1BaL activity over previously reported bivalent ligands. VZMC013 inhibited viral infection in TZM-bl cells coexpressing CCR5 and MOR to a greater degree than cells expressing CCR5 alone. Furthermore, VZMC013 blocked human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 entry in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) cells in a concentration-dependent manner and inhibited opioid-accelerated HIV-1 entry more effectively in phytohemagglutinin-stimulated PBMC cells than in the absence of opioids. A three-dimensional molecular model of VZMC013 binding to the MOR-CCR5 heterodimer complex is constructed to elucidate its mechanism of action. VZMC013 is a potent chemical probe targeting MOR-CCR5 heterodimers and may serve as a pharmacological agent to inhibit opioid-exacerbated HIV-1 entry.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics, Opioid / pharmacology
  • Anti-HIV Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-HIV Agents / metabolism
  • Anti-HIV Agents / pharmacology
  • Binding Sites
  • Dimerization
  • Drug Design*
  • HIV-1 / drug effects
  • HIV-1 / physiology
  • Humans
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / cytology
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / metabolism
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / virology
  • Ligands*
  • Maraviroc / chemistry
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Naltrexone / chemistry
  • Phytohemagglutinins / pharmacology
  • Protein Binding
  • Receptors, CCR5 / chemistry
  • Receptors, CCR5 / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu / chemistry
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu / metabolism*
  • Virus Internalization / drug effects

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Ligands
  • Phytohemagglutinins
  • Receptors, CCR5
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu
  • Naltrexone
  • Maraviroc