Anti-CD8 Monoclonal Antibody (Clone:MEM-31)

The CD8 T cell coreceptor (monomer approx. 32-34 kDa) is expressed as alpha/beta heterodimer on majority of MHC I-restricted conventional T cells and thymocytes and as alpha/alpha homodimer on subsets of memory T cells, intraepithelial lymphocytes, NK 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.