Immune receptor repertoire profiling is an important analytic tool for disease research in many areas, including cancer, cell and organ transplantation, autoimmunity, and infectious disease.
Researchers employ peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in clinical and academic applications related to the immune system and regenerative medicine.
A rogue hybrid lymphocyte, bearing characteristics of both B and T cells, may play a role in driving autoimmunity in the disease, although the mechanism is far from clear.