NTR: CD8/CD4 positive T cell

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Need new terms for MP:
CD8 positive T cell
CD4 positive T cell

Original issue reported on code.google.com by vasil...@ohsu.edu on 4 Aug 2014 at 10:30

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Hi Nicole,

Generally, when immunologists write CD8 positive T cell, what they mean is 
CD8-positive, alpha-beta T cell (CL:0000625).  Similarly, when immunologists 
write CD4 positive T cell, what they mean is CD4-positive, alpha-beta T cell 
(CL:0000624).  T cells bearing the alpha-beta T cell receptor are the most 
common in the body, and are the most commonly studied, so much so, that in many 
published papers, the authors do not even bother to specify (or assume) they 
are studying alpha-beta T cells and thus omit saying so.

On the other hand, if a researcher is studying gamma-delta T cells bearing 
either CD8 or CD4, this is always spelled out in the paper because it is the 
exception.

Introducing new terms for 'CD8 positive T cell' and 'CD4 positive T cell' will 
only serve to confuse users of the CL and decrease the value of the CL for 
annotation.  I would be willing to add a comment and perhaps broad synonyms to 
the existing terms to guide users of the CL who are less familiar with 
immunology.

Thanks,

Alex

Original comment by addi...@buffalo.edu on 12 Aug 2014 at 12:21