CCR5 blockade for neuroinflammatory diseases — beyond control of HIV

Chemokine receptors (CCRs) influence several facets of the immune response and have been implicated in a wide range of inflammatory diseases, including some that affect the CNSCorrelative evidence implicates the CCR5–CCL3/CCL5 axis in multiple sclerosis, Rasmussen encephalitis, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome and infectious diseases, such as cerebral malaria and HIV-associated neurocognitive disordersMaraviroc is an antagonist of CCR5 that was originally developed for the treatment of HIV and is already on the market and well tolerated by patientsMaraviroc might provide neuroprotection in settings in which CCR5 contributes to deleterious neuroinflammation, particularly in diseases in which CD8+ T cells play a pivotal rolePreclinical and clinical studies that assess the benefits of maraviroc in these settings are warranted