RushG60
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Hi, I have a couple rookie questions, I would appreciate it if someone could help me understand...
1. What is the difference between a CD8- and a CD8+ cell, in general what is the signifigance of the "-" and "+" designations?
2. Now I understand that CD8 and CD4 are actual cell types (T-cells), but are CD38+, CD38- etc, are those cells types or specific receptors that are on the surfaces of CD8 cells?
Some clarification on these issues would be really appreciated..
Thanks..!
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| lmbebo
Forum Elite
Topics: 36
Posts: 338
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well, I dont think I have ever heard of a CD8- cell.
I know of T cell development where you have positive and negative selection. The cells start out as cd4-cd8- and then it becomes cd4+cd8+ then it loses one the 4 or 8.
not sure I know about the cd38 thing. I know all T cells have the CD3 receptor though. Which when activated causes some sort of intracellular cascade.... someone fill in the blank please.
Hope this doesn't confuse you as much as it has me.
My best guess is that a CD8- is maybe being refered to as an inactivated CD8 cell. But I was under the impression that a CD8+ cell was inactive and when activated it was refered to as a cytotoxic killer T cell
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| Idiopathic
Forum Guru
Topics: 19
Posts: 641
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No such thing (to my knowledge) as a 'CD8-' cell.
T cells and B cells (and some other cells) carry 'cluster differentiation' markers (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD21, etc.) and these are on the surface of the lympocytes. All T cells are CD3+, whereas some are CD4+ and some are CD8+, just like all B cells are CD21+ (I think) and there ae subtypes there as well. So, sometimes these markers are very specific (CD10 for CALLA cells) and other times they are very general (CD3 for T cells).
I realize this may not help at all, but it is what is fresh in my head.
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