Ontogenic changes in CD95 expression on human leukocytes: Prevalence of T-cells expressing activation markers and identification of CD95^-CD45RO⁺ T-cells in the fetus

The ontogeny of the human immune system was studied by analyzing fetal and adult tissues for the presence of various lymphocyte populations and activation/maturation markers. CD95 (fas) was expressed in hematopoietic tissues during the final stages of development of monocytes, granulocytes, NK cells and T cells, but to a much lesser extent on B cells. In the periphery, CD95 expression declined on granulocytes and NK cells. CD95 was expressed at a higher level on CD45RA⁺ peripheral T-cells in the fetus than in the adult. Contrary to the belief that most fetal T-cells are naïve or resting, a notable number of CD45RO⁺ T-cells were observed as well as an unique CD95^-CD45RO⁺ population. Activation markers CD25, CD122, CD69 and CD80 were also present on fetal T-cells. These findings indicate that in the initial weeks following thymic maturation, a high frequency of T-cells is activated in the periphery of the fetus.