Instead, with regard to hypercortisolism, even though it is known to induce immune suppression and favor thymic atrophy, in db/db mice the relative proportions of CD4+, CD8+ and CD4 and CD8 double positive thymocyte populations are not altered, in contrast with the preferential depletion of CD4 and CD8 double positive thymocytes induced by corticosteroid excess [164], suggesting for leptin a noncorticosteroid-related mechanism of action. Here, CD8A is linked to adrenal gland hyperfunction.