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.
Aviva Systems Biology总部位于加利福尼亚州圣迭戈，在中国北京设有办公室，专注于为研究需求提供多克隆和单克隆抗体、ELISA试剂盒、蛋白质和定制服务。Aviva Systems Biology生产了24,000种经过验证的多克隆抗体，并提供近20,000种ELISA试剂盒，定制实验室服务包括蛋白表达和纯化、抗体开发，以及ELISA的开发、验证和生产。Aviva Systems Biology为与独特物种和靶标相关的研究提供独特工具，研究领域包括转录因子、癌症、心血管、细胞生物学、DNA损伤和修复、表观遗传学、信号转导、细胞分化、干细胞生物学等等。
