Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, in particular an in vitro method, for identifying memory B cells, comprising analyzing epigenetic modifications/properties of (including the methylation status) of at least one CpG position in the mammalian gene region for Chromobox protein homolog 6 (CBX6), wherein a demethylation or lack of methylation of said gene region is indicative for a memory B cell, when compared to a non-memory B cell. The analyses according to the invention can identify memory B cells on an epigenetic level and distinguish them from all other cells in complex samples, such as, for example, other blood or immune cells. The resent invention furthermore provides an improved method for quantifying memory B cells, in particular in complex samples. The method can be performed without a step of purifying and/or enriching cells, preferably in whole blood and/or non-trypsinized tissue.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, in particular an in vitro method, for identifying endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), comprising analyzing epigenetic modifications/properties of (including the methylation status) of at least one CpG position in the mammalian gene region for muscle myosin heavy chain 11 (MYH11) and nuclear distribution protein nudE homolog 1 (NDE1), wherein a demethylation or lack of methylation of said gene regions is indicative for an EPC, when compared to a non-EPC. The analysis according to the invention can identify EPCs on an epigenetic level and distinguish them from all other cells in complex samples, such as, for example, other blood, non-blood or immune cells. The present invention furthermore provides an improved method for quantifying EPCs, in particular in complex samples. The method can be performed without a step of purifying and/or enriching cells, preferably in whole blood and/or non-trypsinized tissue.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, in particular an in vitro method, for identifying memory B cells, comprising analyzing epigenetic modifications/properties of (including the methylation status) of at least one CpG position in the mammalian gene region for Chromobox protein homolog 6 (CBX6), wherein a demethylation or lack of methylation of said gene region is indicative for a memory B cell, when compared to a non-memory B cell. The analyses according to the invention can identify memory B cells on an epigenetic level and distinguish them from all other cells in complex samples, such as, for example, other blood or immune cells. The resent invention furthermore provides an improved method for quantifying memory B cells, in particular in complex samples. The method can be performed without a step of purifying and/or enriching cells, preferably in whole blood and/or non-trypsinized tissue.