The role of CD8+ T cells in the pathogenesis of atopic asthma.

The role of the CD8+ T cells, a specialized subset of T cells, in the pathogenesis of atopic asthmatics is presented on the basis of the latest data. Thus the authors discuss the regulatory role of the CD8+ T cells in the synthesis of IgE, the environmental factors which activate preferentially the CD8+ cells as well as other factors such as histamine, the leukochemoattractant factor, PGE2, IFN gamma and IL-4 which also contribute to the activation of these cells thus demonstrating their role of down-regulating the immune response in asthmatics without the T helper or T cytotoxic.