Description

The CD8b (CD8 β) subunit of CD8 T cell coreceptor is expressed in CD8 α/β heterodimers on majority of MHC I-restricted conventional T cells and thymocytes and in CD8 α/α 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 α/β but not α/α 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.

Biological Information