CD8

Antigen Background

The CD8 molecule is composed of two chains and has a molecular weight of 32 kD. It is found on a T cell subset of normal cytotoxic/suppressor cells which make up approximately 20-35% of human peripheral blood lymphocytes.The CD8 antigen is reported to be detected on natural killer cells, 80% of thymocytes, on a subpopulation of 30% of peripheral blood null cells and 15-30% of bone marrow cells.

Disclaimer

CD8 is recommended for the detection of specific antigens of interest in normal and neoplastic tissues, as an adjunct to conventional histopathology using non-immunologic histochemical stains.