Details for: CL0001203

Cell ID: CL0001203

Cell Name: CD8-positive, alpha-beta memory T cell, CD45RO-positive

Description: A CD8-positive, alpha-beta T cell with memory phenotype indicated by being CD45RO and CD127-positive. This cell type is also described as being CD25-negative.

Synonyms: CD8-positive, alpha-beta memory T lymphocyte, CD45RO-positive, CD8-positive, alpha-beta memory T-cell, CD45RO-positive, CD8-positive, alpha-beta memory T-lymphocyte, CD45RO-positive

Selected Context(s): Overall

Gene Significance Landscape

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Score:
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Genes

Contexts:

Cell Significance Index (CSI) is uniquely calculated to reveal cell-specific gene markers. More info here

Significant Genes List

Genes with the highest and lowest Percentile Rank Scores (PRS) for CD8-positive, alpha-beta memory T cell, CD45RO-positive within the selected context(s).

Gene ID: A unique numerical identifier for this specific gene.
Symbol: Shortened abbreviation or name that represents this gene.
Ensembl Gene ID: A unique identifier assigned by Ensembl for genomic data mapping.
CSI Score: A combined effect size and statistical significance measure for CD8-positive, alpha-beta memory T cell, CD45RO-positive. Higher scores indicate a stronger, more significant difference in expression.
(Previously described as "Fold Change", but now represents Cliff's Delta × –log10(p).)

Gene ID: A unique numerical identifier for this specific gene.
Symbol: Shortened abbreviation or name that represents this gene.
Ensembl Gene ID: A unique identifier assigned by Ensembl for genomic data mapping.
CSI Score: A combined effect size and statistical significance measure for CD8-positive, alpha-beta memory T cell, CD45RO-positive. Higher scores indicate a stronger, more significant difference in expression.
Average CSI: csi sum / gene count
Cell network configuration

This network visualizes key genes for CD8-positive, alpha-beta memory T cell, CD45RO-positive. It primarily includes:
1. Top genes highly significant for this cell (Num. Top Cell Genes - based on the 'Min. CSI' setting).
2. Any additional specific 'Context Genes' you add below.
The final network is a combined view. Choose an Interaction Source (pathways or protein interactions) and optionally compare CSI scores with a Baseline Cell Type.

Maximum number of selected genes.
Select a context for the baseline cell.
Select a context for the target cell.
Target Cell for CSI:  CD8-positive, alpha-beta memory T cell, CD45RO-positive (CL0001203)

 Legend
Nodes (Genes):
 Query Gene
Node size also reflects Target Cell CSI magnitude.
Node Color (Target Cell CSI in specific network):
 Very High
 High
 Medium
 Low
 Very Low
 N/A or Not Sig.
Edges (Interactions):
 STRING (Protein-Protein)
 ONTOLOGY (Shared Pathway)
 Colors vary by pathway category; default arrow applies.

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## Summary The [CD8-positive, alpha-beta memory T cell, CD45RO-positive](/details-cell/CL0001203) is a subset of cytotoxic T lymphocytes that persists long-term after an initial antigen encounter, providing rapid and robust secondary immune responses. Based on its gene significance profile, this cell type is characterized by a highly specific and unique transcriptional landscape. The top defining marker, the cytokine [IL31](/details-gene/386653), suggests a specialized role in tissue inflammation, particularly in the skin. Furthermore, the profile is exceptionally rich in highly specific non-coding and antisense RNAs, indicating that complex post-transcriptional regulation is a cornerstone of this cell's identity and function. ## Key Characteristics and Function **Overall**, the gene expression signature of the [CD8-positive, alpha-beta memory T cell, CD45RO-positive](/details-cell/CL0001203) points toward a cell with specialized effector functions, a distinct metabolic state, and an intricate regulatory network. * **T Cell Identity and Antigen Interaction:** The high specificity of T-cell receptor alpha variable gene [TRAV39](/details-gene/28642) confirms its identity as an alpha-beta T cell. Furthermore, significant expression of [B2M](/details-gene/567), the light chain of MHC class I molecules, and [HLA E](/details-gene/3133), a non-classical MHC class I molecule, underscores its fundamental role in the immune system, involving antigen presentation and interactions with other immune cells such as NK cells. * **Specialized Cytokine Production:** The most specific gene for this cell type is [IL31](/details-gene/386653), a cytokine strongly associated with pruritus and dermatitis. While classically produced by T helper type 2 cells, its extreme specificity in this CD8+ memory T cell population suggests these cells may be a critical source of [IL31](/details-gene/386653) in certain contexts. This is consistent with studies identifying [IL31](/details-gene/386653) in skin-homing T cells in patients with atopic dermatitis ([Link](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2005.10.046)), pointing to a direct role for these cells in skin inflammation. * **Distinct Metabolic Profile:** The high specificity scores for mitochondrial genes [COX1](/details-gene/4512) and [COX2](/details-gene/4513), which encode core subunits of cytochrome c oxidase, suggest a distinct metabolic phenotype. This is consistent with the known bioenergetics of memory T cells, which rely on oxidative phosphorylation for long-term survival and to fuel rapid recall responses upon re-exposure to antigen. * **Complex Post-Transcriptional Regulation:** A remarkable feature of this cell's profile is the prominence of numerous antisense ([ZBTB20 AS4](/details-gene/100874131), [TBC1D8 AS1](/details-gene/100506286)) and long non-coding RNAs ([LINC02679](/details-gene/105378385)) among its most specific markers. This strongly suggests that the maintenance of the memory state, including quiescence and readiness for activation, is governed by a sophisticated layer of post-transcriptional gene regulation. * **Defining Lineage:** The list of anti-markers confirms the cell's identity by exclusion. The lack of significant expression for genes associated with other lineages, such as the dendritic cell marker [DCSTAMP](/details-gene/81501) or the muscle-specific myosin [MYH1](/details-gene/4619), reinforces its distinct lymphoid, non-myeloid, and non-structural identity. ## Clinical Significance and Contextual Roles The gene significance profile of the [CD8-positive, alpha-beta memory T cell, CD45RO-positive](/details-cell/CL0001203) highlights its potential importance in inflammatory skin diseases. The top-ranking gene, [IL31](/details-gene/386653), is a key mediator of itch and has been directly implicated in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis and other pruritic conditions ([Link](https://doi.org/10.1038/ni1084)). The discovery that a CD8+ memory T cell subset expresses this cytokine with such high specificity suggests that these cells could be a primary driver of symptoms in these diseases. This positions the [CD8-positive, alpha-beta memory T cell, CD45RO-positive](/details-cell/CL0001203) as a potential therapeutic target for allergic and inflammatory skin disorders. Modulating the activity or trafficking of this specific cell subset could offer a novel approach to controlling chronic itch and inflammation. Additionally, the specific expression of antigen-presenting machinery components like [B2M](/details-gene/567) and the immunomodulatory molecule [HLA E](/details-gene/3133) reinforces the central role of these cells in adaptive immunity. Their function is critical in contexts such as anti-viral responses, tumor immunosurveillance, and transplantation immunology, where the recognition of peptides on MHC class I molecules is paramount. ## Potential Mechanisms and Research Directions 1. **Hypothesis:** The [CD8-positive, alpha-beta memory T cell, CD45RO-positive](/details-cell/CL0001203) represents a specialized, skin-tropic subset that acts as a key pathogenic driver in pruritic inflammatory skin disorders through the production of [IL31](/details-gene/386653). * **Surprising Findings:** The most specific marker for a cytotoxic CD8+ memory T cell is [IL31](/details-gene/386653), a cytokine classically associated with CD4+ T helper 2 cells. This finding challenges the conventional segregation of effector functions between T cell lineages and suggests a previously underappreciated role for CD8+ T cells in type 2-like inflammation. * **Testable Questions:** Does the targeted depletion of [CD8-positive, alpha-beta memory T cell, CD45RO-positive](/details-cell/CL0001203) or the specific blockade of [IL31](/details-gene/386653) signaling from this cell subset ameliorate disease symptoms in an animal model of atopic dermatitis? 2. **Hypothesis:** The long-term persistence and functional quiescence of [CD8-positive, alpha-beta memory T cell, CD45RO-positive](/details-cell/CL0001203) are actively maintained by a unique network of highly specific antisense and long non-coding RNAs that regulate the expression of key proteins involved in metabolism, survival, and activation. * **Surprising Findings:** The identity of this cell is defined more prominently by a suite of regulatory RNAs (e.g., [ZBTB20 AS4](/details-gene/100874131), [UXT AS1](/details-gene/100133957)) than by canonical protein-coding effector genes like granzymes or perforin in this specificity-based analysis. This implies that the 'memory' state itself is actively enforced at a post-transcriptional level. * **Testable Questions:** What are the mRNA and protein targets of the most specific antisense RNAs, such as [TBC1D8 AS1](/details-gene/100506286), and how does CRISPR-interference-mediated knockdown of these non-coding transcripts impact the longevity and recall capacity of these memory T cells *in vitro* and *in vivo*?