Peripheral blood mononuclear cell

"PBMC" redirects here. For the internet slang that expands to "problems between monitor and chair", see User error. For the 2009 film, see Paul Blart: Mall Cop.

A peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) is any peripheral blood cell having a round nucleus.[1] These cells consist of lymphocytes (T cells, B cells, NK cells) and monocytes, whereas erythrocytes and platelets have no nuclei, and granulocytes (neutrophils, basophils, and eosinophils) have multi-lobed nuclei. In humans, lymphocytes make up the majority of the PBMC population, followed by monocytes, and only a small percentage of dendritic cells.[2]

These cells can be extracted from whole blood using ficoll, a hydrophilic polysaccharide that separates layers of blood, and gradient centrifugation,[3] which will separate the blood into a top layer of plasma, followed by a layer of PBMCs (buffy coat) and a bottom fraction of polymorphonuclear cells (such as neutrophils and eosinophils) and erythrocytes. The polymorphonuclear cells can be further isolated by lysing the red blood cells. Basophils are sometimes found in both the denser and the PBMC fractions.[3]

  1. ^ Delves, Peter, et al. Roitt's Essential Immunology, 11th Ed. ISBN 978-1-4051-3603-7
  2. ^ The impact of food bioactives on gut health : in vitro and ex vivo models. Verhoeckx, Kitty, 1970-, Cotter, Paul (Paul D.), European Cooperation in the Field of Scientific and Technical Research (Organization). Cham. 2015-05-19. ISBN 9783319157917. OCLC 908392100.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
  3. ^ a b Miyahira, Andrea (22 Nov 2012). "Types of immune cells present in human PBMC". sanguinebio.com. Archived from the original on 22 July 2016. Retrieved 23 Sep 2014.