Description
Integral membrane glycoprotein that plays an essential role in the immune response and serves multiple functions in responses against both external and internal offenses.
Interacts simultaneously with the T-cell receptor (TCR) and the MHC class I proteins presented by antigen presenting cells (APCs).
In turn, recruits the Src kinase LCK to the vicinity of the TCR-CD3 complex.
In NK-cells, the presence of CD8A homodimers at the cell surface provides a survival mechanism allowing conjugation and lysis of multiple target cells.
CD8A homodimer molecules also promote the survival and differentiation of activated lymphocytes into memory CD8 T-cells