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Updated: Aug 25, 2026

In Vitro Assay to Evaluate the Impact of Immunoregulatory Pathways on HIV-specific CD4 T Cell Effector Function
Published on: October 15, 2013
Role of CD4 receptor down-regulation during HIV-1 infection
Karine Levesque1, Andrés Finzi, Julie Binette
1Laboratory of Human Retrovirology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Université de Montreal, CP 6128, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal, Canada, H3C 3J7.
Abstract:
Human immunodeficiency virus has evolved several redundant mechanisms to remove its receptor, the CD4 molecule, from the cell surface. Indeed, HIV-1 encodes three proteins, Nef, Vpu and Env, that have a profound effect on CD4 trafficking and catabolism. Given this functional convergence, it is believed that cell surface CD4 regulation constitutes an important determinant of viral replication and pathogenesis in vivo. This review highlights recent progress made in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the down-regulation of the CD4 receptor by HIV-1 and describes our current comprehension of the role of CD4 down-regulation during HIV-1 infection.
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