Dendritic cells (DCs) are a family of immune cells with a central role in directing and maintaining the balance of our immune system. On one end, DCs are efficient antigen-presenting cells and activators of immune effectors, such as T cells and B cells, in response to foreign bodies such as pathogens, mismatched tissue transplant, and…
Many autoimmune diseases are characterized by the presence of antibodies to normal proteins. For example, in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), it’s typical to see antibodies to citrullinated peptides. In Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), antibodies to double-stranded DNA and other nuclear proteins are hallmarks of the disease. Physicians use these different antibody reactivity patterns to distinguish autoimmune…
Natural Killer cells, as their name suggests, are the prime example of cytotoxic cells. However, NK cells aren’t your only option for cytotoxicity. Activated CD8+ T cells are the classic example of cytotoxic T cells, but CD4+ T cells have also been demonstrated to kill their targets. In this post, we’ll dive into the different…
We’re often asked about naïve T cells and memory T cells; specifically if we have both types in our inventory. We do carry both types of CD4+ T cells from multiple donors, and savvy researchers know when to ask for each. Naïve T cells are essential components of the immune system that enable the body…
When you buy immune cell products, you want a supplier that is committed to providing quality cells using a sustainable business model. If you find a cell type or donor you need, you should be able to order the same product again and again until your research needs are met. We believe in sustainable business…
If you’ve ever purchased human cells for research, you’ve probably thought about the blood donors: Did my supplier source these samples responsibly? Did they follow ethical practices and recommended guidelines? If these cells were sourced unethically, will I get in trouble for using them? We’re here to give you some peace of mind and tips…
In the last few years, CAR T cell-based immunotherapies have shown great promise in clinical trials, and scientists are continuing to advance their knowledge with hopes of developing CAR T cell therapies for a range of cancers. CAR T cells are designed to essentially function as antigen-specific T cells, which can be difficult to collect…
You might know that CD34+ stem cells can be sourced from three different locations: bone marrow, cord blood, and peripheral blood. But does it matter which source you use for your CD34+ cells? And do you know the different functions and best use cases for each? We’ll help you find the right stem cell source…
We frequently get requests for blood cell donors who have a certain disease: Can I get a donor with rheumatoid arthritis? Do you have donors with lung cancer? Can I get PBMC from a pregnant donor? Do you have cells from a donor with vitiligo? You get the idea. These requests come in on…
CMV antigens and CMV peptides are both great tools for studying the implications of the human cytomegalovirus (CMV), which infects nearly 1/3 of children before the age of five and more than half of adults in the U.S. Although CMV-infected individuals are often asymptomatic, the virus does pose a serious threat to individuals with weakened…