Peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are blood cells with a round nucleus such as lymphocytes, monocytes or macrophages. These blood cells are a critical component in the immune system to fight off diseases and are also involved in blood clotting.

Overview

PBMCs are derived from peripheral blood by density gradient centrifugation. They consist of lymphocytes (T cells, B cells, and NK cells), monocytes, and dendritic cells. These cells are used in cell biology research and in clinical trials to design and test new forms of immunotherapy.

Function

PBMCs play a crucial role in the immune response. The different types of cells in PBMCs have various functions. Lymphocytes are responsible for the adaptive immune response, monocytes for phagocytosis and antigen presentation, and dendritic cells for activating the immune response.

Research and Clinical Applications

PBMCs are used in research and clinical applications. They are often used in the field of immunology and hematology for in vitro studies. In clinical trials, PBMCs are used to test new drugs and therapies, especially in the field of cancer and autoimmune diseases.

Isolation of PBMCs

PBMCs are isolated from blood samples through a process called density gradient centrifugation. This process separates the blood components based on their density, allowing for the extraction of the PBMCs.

See Also

• Blood cell
• Lymphocyte
• Monocyte
• Dendritic cell
• Immunotherapy
• Density gradient centrifugation