CXCR3 AS EPIGENETIC MARKER FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF INFLAMMATORY IMMUNE CELLS, IN PARTICULAR CD8+ MEMORY T CELLS

The present invention relates to a method, in particular an in vitro method, for specifically identifying the C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3) subpopulation of immune cells in a sample from amammal comprising immune cells, in particular at least one of CD8+ effector and memory T cells, T helper (Th)1 cells and natural killer T (NKT) cells, comprising analyzing epigenetic modifications/properties of (including the methylation status) of at least one CpG position in the mammalian gene region for CXCR3 according to SEQ ID No. 1, wherein a demethylation or lack of methylation of said of at least one CpG position in said gene region is indicative for said CXCR3 specific subpopulation of immune cells in said sample, when compared to other immune cells, in particular for at least one ofCD8+effector and memory T cells, T helper (Th)1 cells and natural killer T (NKT) cells. The analyses according to the invention can identify the above cells on an epigenetic level and distinguish themfrom all other cells in co