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50 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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CD4
CD4 molecule
Chromosome 12 · 12p13.31
NCBI Gene: 920Ensembl: ENSG00000010610.11HGNC: HGNC:1678UniProt: A0A4Y5UGE4
2,026PubMed Papers
21Diseases
7Drugs
2Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Hub GeneReceptor
RESEARCH IMPACT
Highly Studied
CLINICAL
FDA Approved TargetOMIM Disease Gene
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
macrophage differentiationregulation of T cell activationplasma membraneT cell receptor signaling pathwayHIV infectionimmunodeficiency 79HIV-1 infectionOkt4 epitope deficiency
✦AI Summary

CD4 is a transmembrane glycoprotein serving as a primary receptor for HIV-1 infection 12 and human herpesvirus 7 3. Beyond pathogen recognition, CD4 functions as a coreceptor for MHC class II-restricted T cell activation and is expressed on diverse T cell populations with distinct immunological roles. CD4+ T cells encompass multiple functional subsets. Regulatory T cells (Tregs), identified as CD4+FOXP3+ cells, comprise approximately 20% of CD4+ T cells in skin and preferentially localize to perivascular and perifollicular regions 4. Alternative regulatory populations include CD4+CD25-LAG-3+ T cells that produce high IL-10 levels and exhibit immunosuppressive activity 5. CD4+ T cells also demonstrate considerable plasticity; IL-4 can convert human CD4+ thymocytes to CD8+ T cells through de novo CD8αβ synthesis 6. Additionally, cytotoxic CD4+ T cells (CD4 CTLs) directly eliminate HLA-II-expressing senescent fibroblasts through MHC class II-dependent recognition 7. Clinically, CD4 dysfunction underlies Immunodeficiency 79, while HIV-1 Vpu-mediated CD4 downregulation facilitates viral evasion 8. The CD4 molecule's role in both immune regulation and therapeutic targeting, including nanobody-modified AAV vectors for CD4+ T cell gene therapy 9, underscores its clinical significance in infectious disease and immunotherapy development.

Sources cited
1
CD4 is a primary receptor for HIV-1 infection
PMID: 12089508
2
CD4 is a primary receptor for HIV-1 infection
PMID: 16331979
3
CD4 acts as a receptor for human herpesvirus 7
PMID: 7909607
4
HIV-1 Vpu downregulates CD4
PMID: 17346169
5
Tregs (CD4+FOXP3+) comprise ~20% of CD4+ T cells in skin and localize to perivascular/perifollicular regions
PMID: 39673225
6
CD4+CD25-LAG-3+ T cells produce high IL-10 and exhibit immunosuppressive activity
PMID: 20453445
7
IL-4 can convert human CD4+ thymocytes into CD8+ T cells through CD8αβ synthesis
PMID: 35222424
8
Cytotoxic CD4+ T cells eliminate HLA-II-expressing senescent fibroblasts through MHC class II-dependent recognition
PMID: 37001502
9
Nanobody-modified AAV vectors can target CD4+ T cells for gene therapy
PMID: 34928979
Disease Associationsⓘ21
HIV infectionOpen Targets
0.74Strong
immunodeficiency 79Open Targets
0.58Moderate
HIV-1 infectionOpen Targets
0.52Moderate
Okt4 epitope deficiencyOpen Targets
0.47Moderate
viral diseaseOpen Targets
0.40Weak
neurodegenerative diseaseOpen Targets
0.37Weak
lymphomaOpen Targets
0.33Weak
mycosis fungoidesOpen Targets
0.28Weak
Sezary's diseaseOpen Targets
0.27Weak
rheumatoid arthritisOpen Targets
0.24Weak
infectionOpen Targets
0.14Weak
asthmaOpen Targets
0.14Weak
common variable immunodeficiencyOpen Targets
0.13Weak
SepsisOpen Targets
0.13Weak
neoplasmOpen Targets
0.12Weak
Townes-Brocks syndromeOpen Targets
0.12Weak
systemic lupus erythematosusOpen Targets
0.12Weak
experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitisOpen Targets
0.12Weak
COVID-19Open Targets
0.12Weak
hepatocellular carcinomaOpen Targets
0.12Weak
Immunodeficiency 79UniProt
Pathogenic Variants2
NM_000616.5(CD4):c.1A>G (p.Met1Val)Pathogenic
Immunodeficiency 79
☆☆☆☆2021→ Residue 1
NM_000616.5(CD4):c.1157-1G>APathogenic
Immunodeficiency 79
☆☆☆☆2021
View on ClinVar ↗
Drug Targets7
CLENOLIXIMABPhase II
T-cell surface antigen CD4 inhibitor
rheumatoid arthritis
IBALIZUMABApproved
T-cell surface antigen CD4 inhibitor
HIV infection
SEMZUVOLIMABPhase III
T-cell surface antigen CD4 inhibitor
HIV-1 infection
TREGALIZUMABPhase II
T-cell surface antigen CD4 agonist
asthma
TRX-1Phase I
T-cell surface antigen CD4 inhibitor
VRC-01LSPhase I
T-cell surface antigen CD4 binding agent
HIV infection
ZANOLIMUMABPhase III
T-cell surface antigen CD4 other
lymphoma
Related Genes
CCR5Protein interaction100%ITIH4Protein interaction100%CXCR4Protein interaction100%IL16Protein interaction100%HLA-DRAProtein interaction100%CD5Protein interaction100%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Bone Marrow
100%
Lung
94%
Liver
85%
Heart
18%
Brain
16%
Ovary
11%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
CD4CCR5ITIH4CXCR4IL16HLA-DRACD5
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB8W90 · 1.81 Å · X-ray
View on RCSB ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
0.67LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.01Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.48 [0.34–0.67]
RankingsWhere CD4 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #56of 20,598
    Most Researched2,026 · top 1%
  • #709of 1,025
    FDA-Approved Drug Targets1
  • #4,184of 5,498
    Most Pathogenic Variants2
  • #4,966of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)0.67
Genes detectedCD4
Sources retrieved50 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
50▼
1
Cytotoxic CD4
PMID: 37001502
Cell · 2023
1.00
2
CD4
PMID: 39673225
Exp Dermatol · 2024
0.90
3
Enolase 1 of Candida albicans binds human CD4
PMID: 37503840
Eur J Immunol · 2023
0.86
4
Expression and characterization of human CD4:immunoglobulin fusion proteins.
PMID: 2196903
DNA Cell Biol · 1990
0.84
5
CD4 and CD8 expression by human and mouse thymic dendritic cells.
PMID: 8088877
Immunol Lett · 1994
0.82