Human CCR5 Virus-Like Particles

CCR5 (C-C chemokine receptor type 5) is a G protein-coupled receptor primarily expressed on the surface of immune cells, including T cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells. It plays a key role in the immune system by binding to chemokines (such as CCL3, CCL4, and CCL5) that regulate cell migration and inflammatory responses. CCR5 has attracted significant attention for its involvement in HIV-1 infection, serving as a coreceptor for viral entry into host cells. Individuals carrying a natural mutation (CCR5-Δ32) exhibit HIV-1 drug resistance, highlighting its therapeutic potential. In addition to infectious diseases, CCR5 has also been implicated in autoimmune diseases, cancer metastasis, and graft-versus-host disease, making it a promising target for drug development.

CCR5 virus-like particles (VLPs) are nanostructures designed to mimic the native CCR5 receptor, incorporated into a non-infectious, self-assembling viral envelope, or protein shell. These VLPs contain no viral genetic material, ensuring safety while retaining the structural and functional properties of CCR5. They are typically produced using recombinant expression systems (such as insect or mammalian cells) that display CCR5 with high fidelity on the surface of the VLP. CCR5 VLPs are powerful tools in biomedical research, useful for studying receptor-ligand interactions, HIV-1 entry mechanisms, and immune responses. They also have potential as vaccine or therapeutic delivery vehicles, leveraging their ability to elicit a strong immune response without causing infection.