Why Does It Matter Which Receptor Your Virus Is?

Why Does It Matter Which Receptor Your Virus Is?

So we know that people can have HIV that uses on of two receptor types; or in some cases can use both. But why is this significant? It's important because there is now a drug that interrupts attachment to the CCR5 receptor. This drug is the first in the new class of HIV medications called CCR5 Inhibitors. The drug, Maraviroc, blocks the attachment of HIV to the CCR5 receptor, halting HIV replication.

CCR5 inhibitors like Maraviroc are only effective in blocking the CCR5 receptor site. Therefore, any HIV that uses the CCR5 receptor will not be able to replicate. However, the HIV that uses CXCR4 receptors will be unaffected, meaning replication can continue. Simply put, CCR5 inhibitors like Maraviroc will only be effective in people with HIV that uses the CCR5 receptor for replication.