anti-CD8a (human), Rabbit Monoclonal (RM397)

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. CD8 positive immunostaining results may aid in identifying T-cell lymphomas and in identifying the T cytotoxic/suppressor cell subset of T lymphocytes in normal tissues. Defects in CD8A are a cause of familial CD8 deficiency (CD8 deficiency). Familial CD8 deficiency is a novel autosomal recessive immunologic defect characterized by absence of CD8+ cells, leading to recurrent bacterial infections.