Cell cycle-dependent expression of CD4 antigen in a monocytoid cell line.

The CD4 molecule has several biological functions, physiologically as a receptor for major histocompatibility complex class II molecules on antigen-presenting cells, and pathologically as a receptor for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by its binding to the HIV envelope glycoprotein gp 120. The frequency of CD4+ cells has been shown to correlate positively with both susceptibility and cytopathogenic effect by HIV. To determine if CD4 expression varied during the cell cycle, a CD4-expressing monocytoid cell line, U 937 clone 16, was synchronized with regard to cell growth. The CD4 antigen was analysed with regard to expression, density and rate of reappearance after treatment with trypsin, during the different phases of the cell cycle. The CD4 reappearance rate was found to be maximal during the S phase. This was followed by an increased expression and density in the late S/G2 phase. Thus a cell cycle-dependent expression of CD4 molecules on the cell surface was observed.