Activated CD8+ T cells directly kill target cells. Therefore, the regulation of their function is central to avoiding immunopathology. Mechanisms that curb effector functions in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are mostly shared, yet important differences occur. Here, we focus on the control of CD8+ T cell activity and discuss the importance of a poorly understood aspect of tolerance that directly impairs engagement of target cells: the downregulation of CD8. We contextualize this process and propose that it represents a key element during CD8+ T cell modulation.
Keywords: CD8; double negative T cell; tolerance.
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