CD8A and infection: Our findings are in accordance with other reports that showed that PLSCs downregulate Th1 cells and decrease the levels of their associated cytokines such as IFN‐γ and IL‐2.23, 38, 39 Th1 cells mediate immune responses against intracellular bacteria and protozoa by producing IL‐2 and IFN‐γ that lead to activation of macrophages as well as CD8+ T cells and antibody producing B cells.40 During an infection, antigen presenting cells present antigen derived proteins to naïve T cells (Th0) which recognize these signals using their T cell receptors and become activated.