This anti-mouse CD8β Chain monoclonal antibody reacts with the mouse CD8 chain. The CD8 β Chain is also named Ly-3. The CD8 chain associates with the CD8 chain to form the CD8 / heterodimer on MHC class I restricted T-cells (cytotoxic T cells) and most thymocytes1. Since a small subset of T cells (IEL cells) express CD8 / homodimers rather than CD8 / heterodimers, investigators should use an antibody directed against the CD8 chain (CL168B, clone CT-CD8a) to definitively label mouse CD8 cells.
The CD8 antigen is a cell surface glycoprotein found on most cytotoxic T lymphocytes that mediates efficient cell to cell interactions within the immune system. The CD8 antigen, acting as a coreceptor, and the T cell receptor on the T lymphocyte recognize antigen 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.Synonyms: CD8B, CD8B1, T-cell surface glycoprotein CD8 beta chain