Anti-Rat CD8a, APC conjugated, clone OX-8

CD8a is a 32 kD glycoprotein also known as T8, Lyt2, Ly-2, and CD8alpha. CD8a is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily expressed on most thymocytes, subset of mature T cells, most NK cells, macrophages, and some activated CD4+ T cells (not resting). CD8a forms heterodimers with the CD8beta chain (CD8b) on the surface of most thymocytes, while mature peripheral T lymphocytes express almost exclusively the CD8 alphabeta heterodimer. Intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes express CD8a without CD8b. CD8 is an antigen co-receptor on T cells that interacts with MHC class I on antigen-presenting cells or epithelial cells. CD8 participates in T cell activation through its association with the T cell receptor complex and protein tyrosine kinase lck (p56lck). Protein function: Integral membrane glycoprotein that plays an essential role in the immune response and serves multiple functions in responses against both external and internal offenses. In T-cells, functions primarily as a coreceptor for MHC class I molecule:peptide complex. The antigens presented by class I peptides are derived from cytosolic proteins while class II derived from extracellular proteins. Interacts simultaneously with the T-cell receptor (TCR) and the MHC class I proteins presented by antigen presenting cells (APCs). In turn, recruits the Src kinase LCK to the vicinity of the TCR-CD3 complex. LCK then initiates different intracellular signaling pathways by phosphorylating various substrates ultimately leading to lymphokine production, motility, adhesion and activation of cytotoxic T- lymphocytes (CTLs). This mechanism enables CTLs to recognize and eliminate infected cells and tumor cells. In NK-cells, the presence of CD8A homodimers at the cell surface provides a survival mechanism allowing conjugation and lysis of multiple target cells. CD8A homodimer molecules also promote the survival and differentiation of activated lymphocytes into memory CD8 T-cells. [The UniProt Consortium]