CD8b Mouse anti-Human, APC, Clone: 2ST8.5H7, BD

⁺ suppressor T-cell clone termed 20a6.

The CD8β antibody recognizes an epitope formed by the combination of CD8 alpha and beta chains. The majority of peripheral blood CD8⁺ T lymphocytes expresses an α/β heterodimer (32, 30 kilodaltons (kDa)), while CD8⁺CD16⁺ natural killer (NK) lymphocytes and CD8⁺ T-cell receptor (TCR)-γ/δ NK cells. The CD8 antigenic determinant binds to class I major histocompatibility (MHC) molecules, resulting in increased adhesion between the CD8⁺ T lymphocytes and target cells. Binding of the CD8 antigen to class I MHC molecules enhances the activation of resting T lymphocytes. The CD8 antigen is coupled to a protein tyrosine kinase, p56^lck. The CD8:p56^lck complex can play a role in T-lymphocyte activation through mediation of the interactions between the CD8 antigen and the CD3/TCR complex.