Immunofenotüüpimine

Immunofenotüüpimine, also known as immunophenotyping, is a laboratory technique used to identify and quantify cells based on the proteins they express on their surface or within their cytoplasm. This process relies on the principle of specific antibody-antigen binding. Antibodies, which are proteins produced by the immune system, can be engineered to recognize and attach to specific molecules, known as antigens, found on the surface or inside of cells.

In immunophenotyping, these antibodies are labeled with fluorescent dyes or other detectable markers. When a sample of cells, such as blood or tissue, is incubated with these labeled antibodies, the antibodies bind to their corresponding antigens on the cells. The presence and intensity of the fluorescence or signal are then analyzed using specialized instruments like flow cytometers or fluorescence microscopes. Flow cytometry allows for the rapid analysis of thousands of individual cells, measuring multiple markers simultaneously.

The resulting data provides a "fingerprint" of the cell population, revealing the types and proportions of different cell subsets present. This information is crucial in various fields, particularly in clinical diagnostics and research. For example, immunophenotyping is widely used to diagnose and monitor leukemias and lymphomas, to assess immune system status in patients with immunodeficiencies or undergoing transplantation, and to study cellular development and function. It helps differentiate between various cell types, identify abnormal cell populations, and track disease progression or treatment response.