Many can envision how the cells of the immune system (body’s defense mechanisms) communicate and release factors, such as antibodies, to protect us from invading organisms. These biological and chemical mechanisms used by immune system cells are studied extensively. New data shows that physical forces are involved in the processes used against pathogenic (disease-causing) organisms by immune cells such as cytotoxic T cells, a class of T cells that destroys invading organisms.
A diet high in fish intake, providing abundant long chain omega-3 fatty acids, may reduce mortality after breast cancer.
Immunosuppressive properties of novel FoxA1 expressing Treg cells can be exploited for multiple sclerosis treatment
Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) can be used in drug screening. In Part I from this series, we discussed how they can be used to assay drug activity including effects on proliferation, viability, apoptosis, inflammation, and migration in healthy and disease cell models. There are related assays available to measure the effects of drug treatment and, especially for researchers that prefer to use human samples, peripheral blood mononuclear cells are often the cells of choice (PBMCs) are often the cells of choice. The advantages of using human cells initially are immense.