CD8b

null CD8b is the beta chain that pairs with CD8a to form the alpha-beta heterodimer expressed on the great majority of conventional cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Relative to the alpha chain, CD8b has a longer stalk region and its cytoplasmic tail lacks the Lck-binding cysteines, so CD8b mainly tunes co-receptor geometry, strengthens MHC class I binding through the paired alpha chain, and promotes Lck delivery to the TCR. CD8b is largely absent from NK cells and from most intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes, which instead use alpha-alpha homodimers, making CD8b a selective marker of classical cytotoxic T cells. Tracking and therapeutic applications exploit CD8b to quantify tumor-infiltrating cytotoxic lymphocyte responses.