The T cell surface antigen CD4 plays a pivotal role in the MHC class II-restricted response of specific T lymphocytes and serves as the major receptor of human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV). Recent studies have shown the high complexity of CD4 functions in physiological and pathological conditions. We report here a short review of recent developments in the field and discuss the structural features which regulate the functions mediated by the CD4 coreceptor in mature T lymphocytes.