A chemokine receptor found on monocytes and lymphocytes that serves as the coreceptor for HIV. HIV strains that use this coreceptor are referred to as R5 viruses. Polymorphisms in the coding and non-coding regions of the CCR5 gene influence the natural history of HIV infection. CCR5 (or CCCR5) stands for the CC chemokine receptor 5.

A protein on the surface of certain immune system cells, including CD4 T lymphocytes (CD4 cells). CCR5 can act as a coreceptor (a second receptor binding site) for HIV when the virus enters a host cell. See Related Term(s): CCR5 Antagonist, Coreceptor, Fusion, Life Cycle Image(s): (Click to enlarge)