CD4

American  

noun

1. a protein on the surface of T cells and other cells, functioning as a receptor for the AIDS virus antigen.

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Etymology

Origin of CD4

1980–85; c(luster of) d(ifferentiation) 4

Example Sentences

CD4 is a type of molecule called a cell adhesion molecule, which functions to keep different types of immune cells in close proximity to each other during the generation of a T lymphocyte immune response.

From Textbooks

Naïve T cells can express one of two different molecules, CD4 or CD8, on their surface, as shown in Figure 33.11, and are accordingly classified as CD4+ or CD8+ cells.

From Textbooks

ART works so powerfully that it virtually shuts down the ability of these integrated viral genes to make new HIVs, but some of the infected CD4 cells remain in various tissues—the reservoirs.

From Science Magazine

Immunologists already know mice and people deploy one type of regulatory T cell—a subset called Tregs that sports the protein CD4 T—that suppresses autoimmune attacks.

From Science Magazine

HIV uses CD4 as the receptor to get inside cells, but it also needs a co-receptor, such as CCR5 or CXCR4.

From Textbooks