Immune cells are part of the complex immune system, which protects the body from pathogens. A strong immune system is critical for maintaining health, but if the system does not respond appropriately—the response is insufficient or, conversely, too overwhelming—disease and disorders can result. 

The immune system may not be able to respond to a viral or bacterial invasion which can result debilitating illness. Cancer is also a disease that the body can’t fight on its own. New cancer treatments include targeted immunotherapies to fight cancer using an individual’s immune system.

Autoimmune disorders can develop if the body attacks normal cells, mistaking them as invaders and destroying them. Diseases such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and celiac disease are all caused by the body attacking its own cells.

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which damages the immune system and stops the body from fighting disease and infection.

Immune Cells for Your Research

ATCC has the primary immune cells, including PBMCs and BM-MNCs, you need to design and test treatments as part of your research and development. ATCC biomaterials support complex, physiologically relevant research projects, including toxicity screening, transplantation and graft rejection, inflammation and allergy, vaccine, drug development, as well as cancer immunology studies. These authenticated immune cells are from a wide range of donors and can be used by immunologists to design almost any experiment.