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. 2016 Feb 29;7(25):38946–38958. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.7793

Figure 3. Schematic representation of the mechanism of action of 3S.

Figure 3

The 3S motif of the gp41 envelope protein of HIV-1 acts through a subsequent cascade of interactions: Steps 1 & 2: The 3S motif binds to its specific receptor (gC1qR) on CD4+ T-cells (CD4); Step 3: This interaction induces a molecular pathway that leads to NKp44L translocation at the surface of CD4+ T-cells; Steps 4 & 5: the interaction between NKp44L and its receptor, with NKp44 expressed on activated NK cells, induces NK-mediated cytotoxicity and then CD4+ T-cell depletion.