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Updated: Aug 8, 2026
Generation of Human CD40-activated B cells
Published on: October 17, 2009
Ontogeny of CD40L [corrected] expression by activated peripheral blood lymphocytes in humans
1Clinical Immunology Service, Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy.
Insights
CD40 ligand (CD40L) expression is low at birth but increases with age, reaching adult levels by the second decade. This maturation is linked to CD4+ T-cell development and CD45RO antigen expression.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Developmental Biology
- Cellular Immunology
Background:
- CD40 ligand (CD40L) on T cells regulates B-cell responses and antibody production.
- Understanding CD40L ontogeny is crucial for B-cell immune function development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental trajectory of CD40L expression from birth to adulthood.
- To correlate CD40L expression with T-cell subset maturation.
Main Methods:
- Monoclonal antibody TRAP1 used to quantify CD40L expression.
- Study included 97 healthy individuals aged 0-50 years.
- Analysis correlated CD40L with CD45RO antigen expression on CD4+ T cells.
Main Results:
- CD40L expression is significantly reduced at birth.
- Expression progressively increases during infancy and childhood.
- Adult levels of CD40L expression are attained by the second decade of life.
- Increased CD40L expression correlates with CD45RO expression on CD4+ T cells, indicating T-cell maturation.
Conclusions:
- CD40L expression follows a distinct age-dependent maturation pattern.
- The development of CD40L expression is closely tied to the maturation of the CD4+ T-cell subset.
- CD45RO expression serves as a marker for this T-cell maturation process influencing CD40L levels.
Abstract:
The CD40 ligand (CD40L) is a molecule expressed by activated T cells which plays a critical role in the regulation of B-cell responses, including differentiation into Ig-producing cells. Using the specific monoclonal antibody TRAP1 we have evaluated the ontogeny of CD40L expression in 97 normal individuals between birth and 50 years of age. The expression of CD40L is a function of age; it is severely reduced at birth, progressively increases during the first months of life, and reaches a plateau in the second decade. This progressive attainment of the ability to express CD40L is due to a process of maturation of the CD4 + subset, being significantly correlated with the expression of the CD45RO antigen.
