Flow cytometric analyses of surface markers, namely CD45RA and CCR7, which define naïve and memory T cells, showed lower frequencies of naïve CD4 and CD8 T cells (CD45RA+CCR7+) and an increase in memory T cells in the children with CHD as compared to their age-matched counterparts (Fig. 1d, Supplementary Fig. 1d, e), which is consistent with previous reports17,18. This evidence concerns the gene CD8A and coronary artery disorder.