PBMCs: A New Source of Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers

Introduction: According to the application in different disease stages, biomarkers can be classified as diagnostic, prognostic, and pharmacological. There are various types of molecular biomarkers that are derived from distinct starting materials. Although many indirect biomarkers are found in blood, their detection remains a challenging issue because of the high degree of fragmentation, minute quantity and a vast amount of nonspecific background. Description: Multiple recent studies that have used PBMCs as a source of biomarkers reveal the alteration of mRNAs/microRNAs (miRNAs) signature and methylation profile in many kinds of disorders; for instance, dysregulation of mRNAs/miRNAs in schizophrenia, diabetes and different types of cancers and change in the methylation status of LINE-1 in neoplasms. The present review points out the sensitivity and specificity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) as an intact source of biomarkers in a variety of diseases. Conclusion: With a strong probability, PBMCs mimic conditions of some tissues which are in contact with them like the tumor cells, hence providing a non-invasive and suitable source of biomarkers.

کلیدواژه ها:

PBMCs ، biomarker ، diagnosis ، prognosis