Dictionary of Allergies .. CD8+ T cells

T cells are subdivided according to the presence of the cell surface markers CD4 and CD8 which binds to nonpolymorphic regions of MHC class II and I respectively.  In the past CD4+ T cells were believed to act as helper/inducers and CD8+ T cells as cytotoxic/suppressors but the sequent characterization of functionally distinct CD4+

T cell suits which can either help or suppress particular immune responses or can kill specific target cells has rendered this division obsolete, and it is now becoming increasingly clear that a range of different immunological functions can be assigned to the CD8+ phenotype. There is indirect evidence for CD8+ T cell involvement in allergy. Some investigators have failed to find any functional or numerical differences in T lymphocyte subpopulations in patients with allergic asthma while others reported reduced numbers of CD8+ T cells.  Other investigators have found imbalances in the T cell subpopulations in patients with atopic disease, and high CD4+/CD8+ ratios have also been observed in patients with atopic dermatitis who have elevated IgE levels and in patients with parasitic infestations such as Loiasis.

References

Nutman, T.B., et al:  Immunologic correlate of the hyperresponsive syndrome of loiasis. J. Infect. Dis. 1988;157:544-50.Kemeny, D.M., et al: CD8+ T cells in allergy Allergy. 1992:47:12-21.