Immune
Cell Phenotyping
by Epiontis ID
Built to overcome many of the existing challenges common to other immune cell profiling technologies, Precision’s patented Epiontis ID technology is a robust, flexible, and cost-effective platform for immune cell phenotyping based on epigenetic cell counting. With minimal sample processing requirements that simplifies global trial logistics and robust, reproducible results that can be compared between sites and studies, Epiontis ID is an ideal solution for immune monitoring in both early-stage and late-stage clinical trials.
Learn about the technology behind Epiontis ID:
Created in collaboration with Nature, the Epiontis Poster illustrates the numerous cellular pathways involved in autoimmune disorders and their current therapies:
To flow or not to flow: Immune cell profiling in translational research
Learn about key technologies available for immune cell profiling and the benefits and limitations of each approach.
Epigenetic phenotyping is a robust and proven immune monitoring technology
Over 70,000 samples analyzed in more than 100 clinical trials
Technical advantages of Epiontis ID
Epiontis ID is a robust technology with a number of technical advantages:
- Provides quantitative data with absolute cell counts
- Uses qPCR, which provides fast, consistent results
- Cell type assays are accurate and reproducible
- Enables objective comparison of results between different studies and sites
- Th17 and Treg measurements can be done easily; these are often challenging when using other methods
Proven, globally accepted technology
The scientific team that created Epiontis ID is continuously adding new available cell types – often as part of a specific client request or client need. We not only create a customized assay, but also provide a comprehensive biomarker strategy involving Epiontis ID and any number of our other technologies to help achieve your clinical development objectives.
Our expert team can create custom studies
Epiontis ID has been used to analyze over 68,000 samples across more than 100 clinical trials.
Strong correlation with flow cytometry
Epigenetic immune cell counting in human blood samples for immune diagnostics. Baron et al. Sci Transl Med. 2018 Aug 1;10(452).
Logistical advantages of Epiontis ID
Simple sample-handling requirements make Epiontis ID a strong choice for supporting global multi-site clinical trials:
- Small sample volume required: as little as 50µL to 300µL for a panel of 16 immune cells
- No need for PBMC processing or DMSO cryopreservation
- Works with a range of samples
- Whole blood (all types)
- PBMC
- Fresh/frozen tissue
- Dried blood spots
- Clotted blood from serum tubes
- RNA keeper/RNA later-treated tissue
- FFPE/paraffin embedded tissue
- No limitation in sample stability when frozen at -20°C
- Easy shipment on dry ice
Epiontis ID assays are fully standardized and conducted in ISO 17025 accredited facilities that are also GCP/ICH-compliant.
Validated assays ready to run
We offer a range of pre-validated assays that can be conducted without any additional validation studies. We are adding new validated assays regularly. Contact Us if you can’t find a marker you’re looking for.
| T Lymphocytes | Other Immune Cells | Activation and Migration Markers | Exhaustion Markers | Other Cell Types |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CD3 T cells | B cells | CXCR3 positive cells | PD1 positive cells | PDGFRB positive cells |
| CD4 T cells | Naive B cells | CCR6 positive cells | LAG3 positive cells | Col1A1 positive cells |
| CD4 naive T cells | Memory B cells | Granulysin positive cells | CTLA4 positive cells | |
| CD4 memory T cells | Neutrophils | CCR7 positive cells | TIGIT positive cells | |
| CD8 T cells | Eosinophils | CRTH2 positive cells | ||
| CD8 naive T cells | Basophils | S1PR1 positive cells | ||
| Regulatory T cells | Monocytes | S1PR5 positive cells | ||
| Th17 cells | Non-classical monocytes | Integrin 4 alpha positive cells | ||
| TFH cells | NK cells | |||
| GATA3 positive cells | Monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells | |||
| Plasmacytoid dendritic cells |
Epiontis ID Immune Cell Monitoring
How Epiontis ID works
Epiontis ID identifies and quantifies cell types by detecting epigenetic changes in cell type-specific genes
Epigenetic modifications to the genome, such as methylation of cytosines, affect gene expression with methylated regions packed into nucleosomes and unmethylated regions free from histones and available for transcription. Specific epigenetic changes occur in parallel with cell differentiation and are inherited by the daughter cells. Epiontis ID identifies cell types through their epigenetic signature.
Using bisulfite, which converts unmethylated cytosines to uracils but leaves methylated cytosines intact, Epiontis ID uses specifically designed primers and qPCR to count the number of target cells. Because qPCR results are largely operator-independent, and assays can be completed rapidly, Epiontis ID can deliver fast and consistent results even across large, multi-site trials.
Selection of recent publications
Burska et al., Rheumatology, 2019. Quantifying circulating Th17 cells by qPCR: potential as diagnostic biomarker for rheumatoid arthritis.
Baron et al., Science Translational Medicine, 2018. Epigenetic immune cell counting in human blood samples for immunodiagnostics.
Integrating biomarker and clinical trial data
To help researchers understand and interpret biomarker assay data in context of other assays as well as clinical trial data, Precision provides the option to manage and analyze assay data using our proprietary QuartzBio Translational Informatics platform.
Learn more about the computational biology, informatics, and sample inventory management capabilities of QuartzBio >
Global reach, multi-site support
Our Epiontis ID services support preclinical and clinical research, including multi-site studies, conducted anywhere in the world.
Working with Precision
Precision’s scientists take a collaborative and consultative approach to projects and can provide recommendations on assay strategies and implementation, if needed. Services can be provided individually or as part of a comprehensive therapeutic development package including biomarker assays and clinical trials.
Related services
Immune Monitoring by Flow Cytometry
Flow cytometry provides high-dimensional insight into immune cells and target engagement. We have both research-grade instruments for up to 20 parameters analysis, and CLIA instruments, all supported by a global sample processing and logistics network to ensure sample integrity.
Gene Expression Profiling of Biopsies
Understand target expression, adaptive and innate immune responses at the gene expression level. Technologies we use for gene expression profiling include NanoString, Illumina RNA-seq, ddPCR, and qPCR.
Custom Immune Monitoring Assays
For custom assays, we apply our scientific expertise and engineering excellence to design effective and efficient assays to achieve your project’s specific goals.
Discuss your project requirements
Whether you know exactly the type of immune monitoring approach you need or would like expert support with project design, we can deliver.
Discuss your project requirements
Whether you know exactly the type of immune monitoring approach you need or would like expert support with project design, we can deliver.
