New Swedish Method Differentiates Healthy and Diseased Immune Cells in Blood

Scientists at Karolinska Institutet and SciLifeLab have pioneered a spectral biophysical cytometry (SBC) technique that can distinguish between healthy and diseased immune cells from blood samples, particularly focusing on patients with atherosclerosis. This method employs fluorescent nanosensors combined with laser light to analyze thousands of immune cells simultaneously within minutes.

In a proof-of-concept study published in Nature Nanotechnology, researchers analyzed blood from 38 individuals with atherosclerosis alongside 26 healthy controls. Their findings revealed significant differences in physical characteristics such as cell membrane organization and mitochondrial functionality in the patients’ immune cells. These alterations correlate with changes in lipid composition and gene activity, highlighting the cells' physical traits as indicators of health status. Erdinc Sezgin, a leading researcher, noted that these characteristics not only serve as health indicators but may also influence disease progression in atherosclerosis and potentially other conditions.

Funded by the Swedish Research Council and the Cancer Society, this groundbreaking approach represents an advance towards rapid, precise immune cell monitoring. Researchers plan to validate the method further by testing it on larger patient groups and exploring applications across varied diseases. This innovative tool promises to improve diagnostics and the understanding of immune-related diseases significantly.