CD161⁺⁺CD8α⁺ T cells in cord blood are a preprogrammed type-17 subset. (A) Comparison of log fold change in gene expression for selected genes between CD161⁺⁺CD8α+ versus CD161⁻CD8α⁺ T cells in adult and cord blood. Data obtained from 3 cord samples and 3 adult healthy donors. (B) Gene set enrichment summary plots comparing gene expression on microarray analysis between CD161⁺⁺CD8α⁺ versus CD161⁻CD8α⁺ subsets from adult and cord blood. Left panel shows the plot for up-regulated genes, right hand panel shows plot for down-regulated genes. Normalized enrichment score (NES), up-regulated genes, = 4.21, P < .00001. NES, down regulated genes, = -3.25, P < .0001. (C) Representative FACS plots and cumulative date showing CD161⁺⁺ CD8α⁺ cells in cord blood express high levels of IL-18R and CCR6. **P < .001 (1-way ANOVA). (D) Relative fold change in gene expression for RORC, ZBTB16, IL-18RAP, and IL-23R in CD161⁺⁺CD8α⁺ compared with the CD161⁺ and CD161⁻CD8α⁺ subsets in cord blood by real time PCR analysis.