功能

In molecular biology, CD4 (cluster of differentiation 4) is a glycoprotein that serves as a co-receptor for the T-cell receptor (TCR). CD4 is found on the surface of immune cells such as helper 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. In humans, the CD4 protein is encoded by the CD4 gene. CD4+ T helper cells are white blood cells that are an essential part of the human immune system. They are often referred to as CD4 cells, T-helper cells or T4 cells. They are called helper cells because one of their main roles is to send signals to other types of immune cells, including CD8 killer cells, which then destroy the infectious particle. If CD4 cells become depleted, for example in untreated HIV infection, or following immune suppression prior to a transplant, the body is left vulnerable to a wide range of infections that it would otherwise have been able to fight.

背景文献

1. Oh DY et al. Cytotoxic CD4(+) T cells in cancer: Expanding the immune effector toolbox. Immunity. 2021 Dec

2. Morgan DM et al. Revealing the heterogeneity of CD4(+) T cells through single-cell transcriptomics. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2022 Oct

亚细胞定位

Cell membrane.

UNIPROT

SwissProt: P06332 Mouse

别名