OBJECTIVE: In this study, compounds that inhibit CCR5 obtained from the ChEMBL database were analysed, specifically for whether specific substructures and physicochemical properties are correlated to biological activity.

METHODS: Clustering was first performed to group 1,237 compounds into 10 clusters based on the similarities of their structure. Then, molecular docking was performed on 10 compounds representative of each cluster. Lastly, the Spearman correlation was computed between physicochemical properties and biological activity.

RESULTS: Results showed that potent CCR5 inhibitors tend to: (i) be larger in size (molecular weight of more than 500 g/mol), (ii) bind at the deep hydrophobic pocket, mostly through π-π stacking and (iii) have more than 1 aromatic ring. The larger size may aid in reaching the deep hydrophobic pocket. However, these requirements may lead to the violation of more than 1 Lipinski's Rule of 5.

METHODS: In vitro cell model of IDD was established by treating human nucleus pulposus cells (HNPCs) with interleukin-1β (IL-1β). The level of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) was examined in the IDD cell model by Western blot and quantification real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The expression level of miR-96-5p was detected by RT-qPCR. Effects of PPARγ or/and PPARγ agonist on inflammatory factors, extracellular matrix (ECM), apoptosis, and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) nuclear translocation were examined through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot, flow cytometry assay, and immunofluorescence staining. The Starbase database and dual luciferase reporter assay were used to predict and validate the targeting relationship between miR-96-5p and PPARγ, and rescue assay was performed to gain insight into the role of miR-96-5p on IDD through PPARγ/NF-κB signaling.