Description
Product Characteristics: The CD8b (CD8 beta) subunit of CD8 T cell coreceptor is expressed in CD8 alpha/beta heterodimers on majority of MHC I-restricted conventional T cells and thymocytes and in CD8 alpha/alpha homodimers on subsets of memory T cells, intraepithelial lymphocytes, NK cells, macrophages, mast cells, and dendritic cells. Regulation of CD8 beta level on T cell surface seems to be an important mechanism to control their effector function. Assembly of CD8 alpha/beta but not alpha/alpha dimers is connected with formation or localization to the lipid rafts. Recruiting triggered TCR complexes to these membrane microdomains as well as affinity of TCR to MHC I is modulated by CD8, thereby affecting the functional diversity of the TCR signaling.
Target Information: The CD8 antigen is a cell surface glycoprotein found on most cytotoxic T lymphocytes that mediates efficient cell-cell interactions within the immune system. The CD8 antigen, acting as a coreceptor, and the T-cell receptor on the T lymphocyte recognize antigens displayed by an antigen presenting cell (APC) in the context of class I MHC molecules. The functional coreceptor is either a homodimer composed of two alpha chains, or a heterodimer composed of one alpha and one beta chain. Both alpha and beta chains share significant homology to immunoglobulin variable light chains. This gene encodes the CD8 beta chain isoforms. Multiple alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct membrane associated or secreted isoforms have been described. A pseudogene, also located on chromosome 2, has been identified. [provided by RefSeq, May 2010]