CD8
noun
: a glycoprotein that is found associated with a T cell receptor especially on the surface of a cytotoxic T cell and that binds to a major histocompatibility complex molecule on the surface of an antigen-presenting cell to facilitate antigen recognition and cytotoxic T cell activation
—often used before another noun
CD8 surface markers
CD8 cells [=cells bearing CD8 on their surface]
… the CD8 molecule is closely associated with MHC class I molecules on antigen-presenting cells.—
Scientific American Medicine
compare CD4
Scientific American MedicineExamples of CD8 in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Using data on known CD8+ T cell epitopes – small fragments of viral proteins the immune cell can identify – the researchers found that around 60% of people would likely have some degree of pre-existing immunity to H5N1 due to CD8+ T cell virus recognition.
—New Atlas, 24 Feb. 2025
Go deeper: Hamadeh wins CD8 Republican primary Slugfest between Hamadeh and Masters dominates CD8 Republican primary
9th Congressional District: Paul Gosar (R)
Longtime Rep. Paul Gosar is running unopposed in his district, which encompasses parts of the West Valley and northwestern Arizona.
—Jessica Boehm, Axios, 9 Oct. 2024
Masters was chief operating officer of Thiel Capital and president of the nonprofit Thiel Foundation.
Catch up quick: The CD8 winner will replace outgoing U.S. Rep. Debbie Lesko, a Republican who first won the seat in a 2018 special election.
—Jeremy Duda, Axios, 30 July 2024
Schoenberger said the next path of exploration is to explore ways that antigens that activate CD4 and CD8 T-cells could be linked.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2024
In the last few years, some in the field have thought tumor-fighting CD8+ T cells come in to suppress the disease-causing immune response of CD4+ cells.
—Isabella Cueto, STAT, 14 July 2023
When the adaptive response starts taking effect, CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells are released which play an important role in coordinating a sustained immune response and killing off infected cells.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023
The scientists looked for antibodies, memory B cells, CD8+ T cells, and CD4+ T cells, all fighting SARS-CoV-2.
—Adam Rogers, Wired, 5 Mar. 2021
More intriguing, most of these active mice had been inoculated with cancer cells that are known to be particularly vulnerable to a specific type of immune cell, known as CD8+ T cells, which tend, primarily, to fight certain forms of breast cancer and other solid tumors.
—Gretchen Reynolds, Star Tribune, 21 Nov. 2020
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New Atlas, 24 Feb. 2025
Go deeper: Hamadeh wins CD8 Republican primary Slugfest between Hamadeh and Masters dominates CD8 Republican primary
9th Congressional District: Paul Gosar (R)
Longtime Rep. Paul Gosar is running unopposed in his district, which encompasses parts of the West Valley and northwestern Arizona.
—Jessica Boehm, Axios, 9 Oct. 2024
Masters was chief operating officer of Thiel Capital and president of the nonprofit Thiel Foundation.
Catch up quick: The CD8 winner will replace outgoing U.S. Rep. Debbie Lesko, a Republican who first won the seat in a 2018 special election.
—Jeremy Duda, Axios, 30 July 2024
Schoenberger said the next path of exploration is to explore ways that antigens that activate CD4 and CD8 T-cells could be linked.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2024
In the last few years, some in the field have thought tumor-fighting CD8+ T cells come in to suppress the disease-causing immune response of CD4+ cells.
—Isabella Cueto, STAT, 14 July 2023
When the adaptive response starts taking effect, CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells are released which play an important role in coordinating a sustained immune response and killing off infected cells.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023
The scientists looked for antibodies, memory B cells, CD8+ T cells, and CD4+ T cells, all fighting SARS-CoV-2.
—Adam Rogers, Wired, 5 Mar. 2021
More intriguing, most of these active mice had been inoculated with cancer cells that are known to be particularly vulnerable to a specific type of immune cell, known as CD8+ T cells, which tend, primarily, to fight certain forms of breast cancer and other solid tumors.
—Gretchen Reynolds, Star Tribune, 21 Nov. 2020
Cite this Entry
“CD8.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/CD8. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
CD8
noun
: a glycoprotein that is found associated with a T cell receptor especially on the surface of a cytotoxic T cell and that binds to a major histocompatibility complex molecule on the surface of an antigen-presenting cell to facilitate antigen recognition and cytotoxic T cell activation
—often used before another noun
CD8 surface markers
CD8 cells [=cells bearing CD8 on their surface]
… the CD8 molecule is closely associated with MHC class I molecules on antigen-presenting cells.—Scientific American Medicine
compare cd4
Scientific American MedicineLove words? Need even more definitions?
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