cluster of differentiation 4

9.9

A protein on helper T cells that helps the immune system and lets HIV enter cells

noun
/ˈklʌstər əv ˌdɪfərɛnˈteɪʃən fɔr/

Specialized

: cluster de diferenciación 4

HIV attaches to the cluster of differentiation 4 on helper T cells, allowing the virus to enter and infect the cell.

Examples

Doctors monitor the levels of cluster of differentiation 4 to assess the progression of HIV infection.
A low cluster of differentiation 4 cell count indicates a weakened immune system in patients with AIDS.
The cluster of differentiation 4 plays a vital role in the immune response.
Researchers are studying the clusters of differentiation 4 in HIV patients.
A low cluster of differentiation 4 cell count indicates a weakened immune system in patients with AIDS.
Doctors monitor the levels of cluster of differentiation 4 to assess the progression of HIV infection.
HIV attaches to the cluster of differentiation 4 on helper T cells, allowing the virus to enter and infect the cell.

Synonyms

CD4

vscluster of differentiation 4

Specialized

6 7.2

A protein on some white blood cells that HIV uses to enter and that helps control the immune response

uses the full spelled-out name rather than the shortened form

Surface Forms

cluster of differentiation 4 singular

clusters of differentiation 4 plural

Morphology

cluster + of + differentiation + 4

Although the words 'cluster', 'differentiation' and '4' have ordinary meanings, 'cluster of differentiation 4' is a specialized biomedical label (CD4) whose meaning as a specific glycoprotein receptor on helper T cells is a technical classification rather than a compositional semantic combination. The numeral functions as an identifier and the phrase refers to a domain-specific entity that a B1 learner who only knows the constituent words would not be able to infer.

Etymology

Cluster of differentiation 4 The name cluster of differentiation 4 comes from lab work where scientists grouped similar cell-surface 'markers' into clusters and used those groups to show differences called differentiation, and 4 was the fourth group they found. So today cluster of differentiation 4 means a specific protein on some immune cells that doctors measure to check the health of the 'immune system' and where HIV can attach.