GBN webinar: PBMCs – anything but peripheral

In the past year, interest in the biobanking of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) for immunological research questions has increased enormously, especially in the context of COVID-19. This is because PBMCs play an important role in determining changes in the immune system. By means of immunological markers, dysregulations and thus possibilities to counteract them can be identified.

The webinar “PBMCs – anything but peripheral“, organised by the German Biobank Node (GBN) provided a comprehensive insight. On 30 September 2021, more than 90 participants first listened to a presentation by Prof. Dr. Alexandra Nieters (FREEZE-Biobank Freiburg) on the current use of PBMCs for immunological research. Dr. Heidi Altmann (BioBank Dresden), Dr. Daniel Brucker (Interdisciplinary Biomaterial and Database Frankfurt) and Dr. Steffen Rapp (BioBank Mainz) then explained various isolation methods (including Ficoll, CPT, automated) and discussed their advantages and disadvantages. One of the most famous medical discoveries from Norway was based on the realisation that liquids of different density can be layered. Daniel Brucker illustrated this principle very entertainingly using the example of Irish coffee. Theresa Schleyer provided information on variables relevant to biobanking, such as cell count, freezing and thawing, and Dr. Gunter Wolf concluded by reporting on experiences from the PBMC proficiency test conducted with biobanks of the German Biobank Alliance (GBA).

For the new interdisciplinary field of “systems immunology“, which focuses on the complexity of the immune system, the handling of PBMC by biobanks is of utmost importance. “Systems immunology needs biobanks that provide high quality biospecimens and associated data to optimally support downstream technologies to unravel the complexity of the immune system,“ says Christiane Hartfeldt (QM coordinator, GBN). “The webinar benefited from the experience and expertise of numerous colleagues from the GBA – a successful team effort,“ sums up Sabrina Schmitt (BioMaterialBank Heidelberg). “What became clear was: PBMC are clearly anything but peripheral!“

A recording of the webinar is available for GBA biobank staff.

Questions?

germanbiobanknode@charite.de

Tel. +49. 30. 450 536 347


Fax +49. 30. 450 753 69 38

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