| Description: | 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. CD8 binds to MHC class 1 and through its association with protein tyrosine kinase p56lck plays a role in T cell development and activation of mature T cells. For mature T-cells, CD4 and CD8 are mutually exclusive, so anti-CD8, generally used in conjunction with anti-CD4. 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.Primary antibodies are available purified, or with a selection of fluorescent CF� Dyes and other labels. CF� Dyes offer exceptional brightness and photostability. Note: Conjugates of blue fluorescent dyes like CF�405S and CF�405M are not recommended for detecting low abundance targets, because blue dyes have lower fluorescence and can give higher non-specific background than other dye colors. |
