CD8 T-Cell

CD8 is a cell surface receptor expressed either as a heterodimer with the CD8 β chain (CD8 α/β) or as a homodimer (CD8 α/α). A majority of thymocytes and a subpopulation of mature T cells and NK cells express CD8a. It is a useful marker for distinguishing helper/inducer T-lymphocytes, and most peripheral T-cell lymphomas are CD4+/CD8-. Anaplastic large cell lymphoma is usually CD4+ and CD8-, and in T-lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia, CD4 and CD8 are often co-expressed. CD8 is also found in littoral cell angioma of the spleen.