In molecular biology, CD4 (cluster of differentiation 4) is a glycoprotein found on the surface of immune cells such as T helper 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 geneGalectin 3 is one of the more extensively studied members of this family and is a 30 kDa protein. Due to a C-terminal carbohydrate binding site, Galectin 3 is capable of binding IgE and mammalian cell surfaces only when homodimerized or homooligomerized. Galectin 3 is normally distributed in epithelia of many organs, in various inflammatory cells, including macrophages, as well as dendritic cells and Kupffer cells. The expression of this lectin is up-regulated during inflammation, cell proliferation, cell differentiation and through trans-activation by viral proteins.
