What is it?\u00a0<\/strong>Cysteine-cysteine chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) is a protein <\/strong>on the surface of white blood cells<\/strong> that are involved in the immune system as it acts as a receptor for chemokines.\u00a0<\/p>\n CCR5 is found in the cell membranes of many types of mammalian cells<\/strong>, including nerve cells and white blood cells.\u00a0<\/p>\n In humans, the CCR5 gene that encodes the CCR5 protein is located on the short (p) arm at position 21 on chromosome 3.\u00a0<\/p>\n Role of CCR5:<\/strong> The role of CCR5 is to allow entry of chemokines<\/strong> into the cell\u2014chemokines are involved in signalling the body\u2019s inflammation response to injuries.<\/p>\n Various mutations of the CCR5 gene are known that result in damage to the expressed receptor.\u00a0<\/p>\n One of the mutant forms of the gene is CCR5-delta 32, which results from the deletion of a particular sequence of 32 base pairs.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) mainly attacks the CD4 immune cells<\/strong> in the human body, thereby reducing a person\u2019s ability to fight off secondary infections.<\/p>\n The CCR5 receptors on the surface of the CD4 immune cells act as a doorway for HIV. However, the CCR5-delta 32 mutation prevents these receptors used by the HIV from forming on the surface, effectively removing the doorway.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n CD4 cells are a type of white blood cell or”helper T cells because they help fight infection by triggering your immune system to destroy viruses, bacteria, and other germs that may make people sick.<\/p>\nHow does the mutation work in HIV patients?<\/h3>\n
\nQ1) What are CD4 cells?<\/h3>\n