2.6. Oxidative Stress 
BLOOD, SEPARATION, OXIDATIVE STRESS
Blood samples were collected in BD Vacutainer CPT mononuclear cell preparation tubes that contained blood separation media composed of a thixotropic polyester gel and a Ficoll Hypaque solution. The tubes were centrifuged to isolate live peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and oxidative stress was measured using a fluorogenic cell-permeant probe CellROX Orange (Thermo Fisher, Waltham, MA, USA). Fluorescence upon oxidation by reactive oxygen species was quantified on BD Accuri C6 flow cytometer with absorption/emission maxima of 545/565 nm and presented as relative fluorescent units (RFUs). 