When we analyzed the phenotype of the circulating CD3+CD8+ T cells according to the activation criteria in patients with septic shock at ICU admission, all patients showed low count of CD3+CD8+CD45RA+CD45RO− T lymphocytes (naïve cells), and survivors also have low CD3+CD8+CD45RA−CD45RO+ lymphocytes (memory cells) at day 3 of the follow-up, associated with a lower count of CD3+CD8+CD28+ T lymphocytes. This evidence concerns the gene CD8A and septic shock.