CD4 and CD8 act as co-receptors during thymic selection of the T cell repertoire

Abstract

The selection of T cell receptor specificities must logically not only involve the alpha beta-TCR but, also the CD4 and CD8 molecules, as antigen recognition by the alpha beta-TCR on mature T cells is facilitated by the CD4 and CD8 co-receptors. In this review, the studies that provided key advances in our understanding of the possible role of CD4 and CD8 in T cell development will be discussed.