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Updated: Sep 27, 2026

Cell-based Flow Cytometry Assay to Measure Cytotoxic Activity
Published on: December 17, 2013
Human CD8 T cells of the peripheral blood contain a low CD8 expressing cytotoxic/effector subpopulation
Axel Trautmann1, Beate Rückert, Peter Schmid-Grendelmeier
1Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF), Obere Strasse 22, CH-7270 Davos, Switzerland. trautmann_a@klinik.uni-wuerzburg.de
Abstract:
Heterogeneity of lymphocyte populations demonstrates the diversity of cellular immune responses and provide a better understanding of the immune system. CD3+ CD8+ T cells exhibit a low CD8 expressing (CD8low) population in flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood T cells. In healthy donors, this population consists of 0.2-7.0% of all CD8 T cells. The majority of the CD8low T cell population showed an elevated expression of CD25, CD45RA, and CD95L, and low levels of CD28, CD62L and CD45RO. Circulating CD8low T cells resemble cytotoxic effector cells because they express cytolytic mediators and are able to execute cytotoxicity. A restricted T cell receptor profile with increased Vbeta9, Vbeta14 and Vbeta23 expression was observed and the CD8low T cell population contain Epstein-Barr virus-specific T cells. Therefore, the CD8low population represent a subset of activated CD8 effector T cells, resulting most probably from a continuous and/or balanced immune response to intracellular pathogens.
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