Enumeration of circulating fibrocytes for clinical use in asthma by an optimized single-platform flow cytometry assay

摘要

BackgroundElevated numbers of circulating fibrocytes are associated with inadequately controlled asthma, poor response to available therapies, and increased risk of adverse outcomes. The lack of reliable and clinically-applicable assays precludes a proper evaluation of blood fibrocyte count as a prognostic biomarker in asthma. This report concerns the use of a multiparameter flow cytometry assay for the enumeration of fibrocytes in the whole blood.