CD8B, Official Symbol CD8Bprovided by HGNC Official Full Name CD8 subunit betaprovided by HGNC Primary source HGNC:HGNC:1707 See related Ensembl:ENSG00000172116 MIM:186730; AllianceGenome:HGNC:1707 Gene type protein coding RefSeq status REVIEWED Organism Homo sapiens Lineage Eukaryota; Metazoa; Chordata; Craniata; Vertebrata; Euteleostomi; Mammalia; Eutheria; Euarchontoglires; Primates; Haplorrhini; Catarrhini; Hominidae; Homo Also known as LY3; P37; LEU2; LYT3; Ly-3; CD8B1; CD8beta Summary The CD8 antigen is a cell surface glycoprotein found on most cytotoxic T lymphocytes that mediates efficient cell-cell interactions within the immune system. The CD8 antigen, acting as a coreceptor, and the T-cell receptor on the T lymphocyte recognize antigens 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. This gene encodes the CD8 beta chain isoforms. Multiple alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct membrane associated or secreted isoforms have been described. A pseudogene, also located on chromosome 2, has been identified. [provided by RefSeq, May 2010] Expression Broad expression in lymph node (RPKM 4.6), small intestine (RPKM 2.3) and 14 other tissues See more Orthologs mouse all