생화학분자생물학회

	Yeonseok Chung( tkkim@postech.ac.kr )
	2014-present	Assistant/Associate/Full professor (tenured), Seoul National University
	2010-2013	Assistant professor, University of Texas HSC at Houston, TX, USA
	2005-2009	Postdoctoral fellow/Instructor, MD Anderson Cancer Center, TX, USA
	1997-2003	MS/PhD. Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

CD8 T-cell subsets: heterogeneity, functions, and therapeutic potential

CD8 T cells play crucial roles in immune surveillance and defense against infections and cancer. After encountering antigenic stimulation, naïve CD8 T cells differentiate and acquire effector functions, enabling them to eliminate infected or malignant cells. Traditionally, cytotoxic T cells, characterized by their ability to produce effector cytokines and release cytotoxic granules to directly kill target cells, have been recognized as the constituents of the predominant effector T-cell subset. However, emerging evidence suggests distinct subsets of effector CD8 T cells that each exhibit unique effector functions and therapeutic potential. This review highlights recent advancements in our understanding of CD8 T-cell subsets and the contributions of these cells to various disease pathologies. Understanding the diverse roles and functions of effector CD8 T-cell subsets is crucial to discern the complex dynamics of immune responses in different disease settings. Furthermore, the development of immunotherapeutic approaches that specifically target and regulate the function of distinct CD8 T-cell subsets holds great promise for precision medicine.

Exp Mol Med. 2023 Nov;55(11):2287-2299. doi: 10.1038/s12276-023-01105-x
https://www.nature.com/articles/s12276-023-01105-x