The CD4-gp120 interaction and AIDS pathogenesis.
Infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) leads to progressive destruction of the CD4+ subset of T lymphocytes, resulting in immunodeficiency and AIDS. The selectivity of CD4+ cell destruction is due to the specific binding of gp120, the external envelope glycoprotein of HIV, to CD4, initiating viral entry. Binding of gp120 to CD4 on the cell surface may also lead to CD4+ cell depletion by inappropriate immune targeting, and may interfere with CD4+ cell function and ontogeny by disrupting CD4-mediated cell signaling. The CD4-gp120 interaction is thus an obvious target for AIDS therapeutics.
Capon
D J
DJ
Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, California 94080.
Ward
R H
RH
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001287:Attachment Sites, Microbiological; D001665:Binding Sites; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D002459:Cell Fusion; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011485:Protein Binding
D015704:CD4 Antigens; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120