Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are cells with a single, round nucleus and are collected from the peripheral or circulating blood by density centrifugation with Ficoll, a polysaccharide. PBMCs include dendritic cells, monocytes, and lymphocytes (T, B, and NK cells). T cells are CD3⁺ and further classified into helper T cells (TH) that express CD4 and cytotoxic T cells (TC) that express CD8. B cells are characterized by CD19 expression and respond to pathogens by producing a large number of antigen-specific antibodies to neutralize foreign objects. NK cells are CD56⁺CD3^-, which originate from the same progenitor cells as T and B cells, but lack the antigen receptor. Finally, monocytes are the largest type of PBMCs and express CD14. They circulate in the bloodstream for 1-3 days and then usually move into tissues throughout the body, where they can differentiate into macrophages and myeloid-lineage dendritic cells.

PBMCs are a powerful tool for research and clinical studies related to human health and disease. By efficient and successful processing and analysis of PBMCs, researchers and clinicians can evaluate immune responses, gain a deeper understanding of the immune system, and apply their findings to the treatment of human diseases. PBMC are now readily available from many commercial sources, with samples isolated from both healthy and diseased individuals.