CD45RA expression on γδ and αβ T cells emigrating from the fetal and postnatal thymus

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Abstract
We have compared the expression of CD45RA on αβ and γδ T cells emigrating from the fetal and postnatal thymus. The fetal and postnatal thymus export both CD45RA+ and CD45RA‐ T cells. The number of γδ+CD45RA+ T cells was remarkably constant regardless of stage of ontogeny or T cell maturity. Around 5‐‐8% of γδ thymic emigrants, thymocytes and peripheral blood lymphocytes expressed CD45RA in both fetal and postnatal animals. In contrast to γδ T cells, up to one quarter of both fetal and postnatal αβ emigrants expressed CD45RA. Post‐thymic maturation of CD45RA expression on αβ emigrants, which occurred both before and after birth, appeared to be antigen independent.