Fusion inhibitors are a class of drugs used to suppress HIV in the body. When fusion inhibitors are used in combination with other HIV-fighting medications the treatment regimen is referred to as antiretroviral therapy (ART).
HIV needs to enter human host cells, called CD4 cells or T cells, to replicate. In order to enter into these cells, HIV needs to bind to the host cell surface and then fuse itself with the host cell to get inside. Fusion inhibitors block this step in the process, preventing HIV from getting into its target cell and replicating.
HIV life cycle
Viruses, like HIV, need human host cells to replicate. They cannot multiply on their own without human cells. When HIV particles, called virions, enter the body after a transmission event, the next main steps of the HIV lifecycle are as follows:1
- Binding
- Fusion
- Reverse transcription
- Integration
- Replication
- Assembly
- Budding
Figure 1. Fusion inhibitors target fusion in the HIV life cycle
The HIV virions have proteins on the outside that recognize receptors on CD4 cells. Once a virion finds a CD4 cell, it’s outside proteins can bind to the CD4 cell receptor and link the CD4 cell and virion together (step 1: binding). In order for the virus to fully bind and fuse with the CD4 cell and get inside the cell to continue replication (step 2: fusion), other receptors on the CD4 cell surface may get involved. These additional receptors on the host cell include the CCR5 or CXCR4 receptors. The HIV surface receptors involved in the first two steps are called gp120 and gp41. Any of these receptors on the CD4 cell or HIV itself may be targets for HIV medications.1
Once inside the cell, the virion disassembles itself so that it can begin the replication process. The next three steps represent the replication process of the virus’s genetic material. The last two steps of the process involve HIV re-assembling itself into new, mature virions that can be released from the CD4 cell and enter the bloodstream where they can go on to infect new cells.1
Fusion inhibitors’ mechanism of action
Fusion inhibitors bind to the gp41 protein on the outside of the virus. Gp41 is involved in the physical merging of the outsides of the virus and CD4 cells, allowing HIV to get inside the host cell. This blending and absorption of the virus is called fusion. By blocking gp41, the main protein involved in this process, the fusion process is prevented or inhibited. This is where this class of medications gets its name.
There are other medications that can be used to block the physical connection between HIV and CD4 cells, called CCR5 inhibitors or post-attachment inhibitors. However, fusion inhibitors are different in that they block the step after binding. When using a fusion inhibitor, an HIV virion is allowed to physically link to a CD4 cell; however, it cannot fuse with the host cell and get inside.2
Examples of fusion inhibitors
Common fusion inhibitors include, but may not be limited to:
- Enfuvirtide (T-20)2,3
Things to note
The fusion inhibitor enfuvirtide is given as an injection into the skin. Injection site reactions, such as itching, swelling, redness, bruising, rash, or pain are common where the drug is administered. Enfuvirtide may also cause allergic reactions, pneumonia, and nerve issues, including numbness or burning under the skin. These are not all the possible side effects of enfuvirtide. Patients should talk to their doctor about what to expect with treatment with enfuvirtide.
Further, fusion inhibitors may cause a condition called IRIS (immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome). IRIS occurs when an individual’s immune system gets stronger after being weak and responds aggressively to previously hidden infections. This heightened response may make the person fighting the infection feel worse.4
