Recurrent Respiratory Infections Revealing CD8α Deficiency

CD8A encodes the CD8α chain of the dimeric CD8 protein, a critical coreceptor of cytotoxic T cells. We report here the comprehensive immunological evaluation of a child with a CD8A missense mutation, providing evidence that CD8 deficiency increases susceptibility to recurrent respiratory infections without interfering with the TCR-mediated proliferation of T cells. These observations expand the known phenotypes associated with CD8 deficiency.