CD4

CD4 (cluster of differentiation 4) is a glycoprotein expressed on the surface of T helper cells, regulatory T cells, monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells. It was discovered in the late 1970s and was originally known as leu-3 and T4 (after the OKT4 monoclonal antibody that reacted with it) before being named CD4 in 1984 (ref: Bernard et al, editors. Leukocyte Typing. Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg. 45-48, 1984)

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Function

On T cells, CD4 is the co-receptor for the T cell receptor (TCR). It amplifies the signal generated by the TCR by recruiting the tyrosine kinase lck that is essential for activating many molecules involved in the signaling cascade of an activated T cell.

Structure

Like many cell surface receptors/markers, CD4 is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily.

It has four immunoglobulin domains (D₁ to D₄) that are exposed on the extracellular surface of the cell:

• D₁ and D₃ resemble immunoglobulin variable (IgV) domains.
• D₂ and D₄ resemble immunoglobulin constant (IgC) domains.

CD4 uses its D₁ domain to interact with the β₂-domain of MHC class II molecules. T cells expressing CD4 molecules (and not CD8) on their surface, therefore, are specific for antigens presented by MHC II and not by MHC class I (they are MHC class II-restricted).

The short cytoplasmic/intracellular tail (C) of CD4 contains a special sequence of amino acids that allow it to interact with the lck molecule described above.

Role in HIV infection

  CD4 is also a primary receptor used by HIV-1 to gain entry into host T cells.

The HIV-1 virus attaches to CD4 with a particular protein in its viral envelope known as gp120. The binding to CD4 creates a shift in the conformation of the viral gp120 protein allowing HIV-1 to bind to two other cell surface receptors on the host cell (the chemokine receptors CCR5 and CXCR4). Following another change in shape of a different viral protein (gp41), HIV inserts a fusion peptide into the host T cell that allows the outer membrane of the virus to fuse with the T-cell membrane.

HIV infection leads to a progressive reduction in the number of T cells possessing CD4 receptors and, therefore, the CD4 count is used as an indicator to help physicians decide when to begin treatment in HIV-infected patients.

Further reading