CD161 defines a transcriptional and functional phenotype shared across distinct human T cell lineages (CD 8)

T lymphocytes are conventionally divided into subsets based upon expression of co-receptors, cytokines and surface molecules. By mRNA microarray analysis, T lymphocytes that express the C-type lectin CD161 were identified to share a transcriptional profile, which led to the identification of an innate function across these previously defined subsets, including CD8, CD4 and TCRgd T cells. Gene expression of sort purified, resting CD161++, CD161+ and CD161- CD8+ T cells from peripheral blood was measured in 4 healthy donors.