Effects of antigen retrieval by microwave heating in formalin-fixed tissue sections on a broad panel of antibodies

1994 ◽  
Vol 102 (3) ◽  
pp. 165-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. von Wasielewski ◽  
M. Werner ◽  
M. Nolte ◽  
L. Wilkens ◽  
A. Georgii
1998 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shan-Rong Shi ◽  
Richard J. Cote ◽  
Benjaporn Chaiwun ◽  
Lillian L. Young ◽  
Yan Shi ◽  
...  

1991 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 741-748 ◽  
Author(s):  
S R Shi ◽  
M E Key ◽  
K L Kalra

We describe a new approach for retrieval of antigens from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues and their subsequent staining by immunohistochemical techniques. This method of antigen retrieval is based on microwave heating of tissue sections attached to microscope slides to temperatures up to 100 degrees C in the presence of metal solutions. Among 52 monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies tested by this method, 39 antibodies demonstrated a significant increase in immunostaining, nine antibodies showed no change, and four antibodies showed reduced immunostaining. In particular, excellent immunostaining results were obtained with a monoclonal antibody to vimentin as well as several different keratin antibodies on routine formalin-fixed tissue sections after pre-treatment of the slides with this method. These results showed that after antigen retrieval: (a) enzyme predigestion of tissues could be omitted; (b) incubation times of primary antibodies could be significantly reduced, or dilutions of primary antibodies could be increased; (c) adequate staining could be achieved in long-term formalin-fixed tissues that failed to stain by conventional methods; and (d) certain antibodies which were typically unreactive with formalin-fixed tissues gave excellent staining.


2005 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jukka Vakkila ◽  
Michael T. Lotze ◽  
Connie Riga ◽  
Ronald Jaffe

There is a burgeoning literature on the contrasting role of intratumoral dendritic cells (DCs) and tumor-associated macrophages, making reliable identification of both cell types in clinical and experimental tissue sections important. However, because these cell types are closely related and share several differentiation antigens, their absolute distinction in tissue sections is difficult. We differentiated DCs and macrophages from monocytes in vitro, prepared cytospins and paraffin-embedded sections of the various cell populations, and tested a variety of antibodies that purportedly recognize monocytes and DCs for their capacity to react and distinguish cells after conventional formalin fixation. Cultured DCs but not macrophages were detected by fascin, DC-LAMP, and CD83 with a predictable increase in staining that paralleled their maturation. Staining by CD1a was found on immature DCs but was weak and absent on mature DCs and macrophages, respectively. CD14 and CD163 were characteristic for macrophages and absent on DCs. CD68, HLA-DR, and S100 did not discriminate between DCs and macrophages. We conclude that antigens such as HLA-DR and S100 are not in themselves sufficient for identification of DCs in formalin-fixed tissue sections, but that additional macrophage-specific (CD14, CD163) and DC-specific (CD1a, CD83, fascin, DC-LAMP) antigens should be used to distinguish cell types from each other and to provide information on their state of maturation.


1997 ◽  
Vol 45 (8) ◽  
pp. 1165-1170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip M. Bak ◽  
Ralph J. Panos

Incorporation of halogenated nucleotide analogues is often used to assess DNA synthesis and to quantitate cellular proliferation. Multiple antibodies have been developed to bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) and it is the most frequently utilized substrate. Because the immunodetection of incorporated BrdUrd requires DNA denaturation or nuclease digestion, most of these antibodies are not reactive in tissues or cells fixed with crosslinking agents. Antigen retrieval techniques utilizing protease digestion restore BrdUrd antigenicity and permit the detection of BrdUrd in formalin-fixed tissue. However, during the development of a double label immunohistochemical protocol to quantitate proliferating alveolar Type II cells, we noted nucleus-specific staining in lung sections from animals that had not received BrdUrd. Therefore, we systematically analyzed the specificity of the immunohistochemical detection of incorporated BrdUrd in formalin-fixed tissue after protease digestion. Enzymatic antigen recovery diminished the specificity of the BrdUrd reaction product and caused false-positive staining with the BU-1, B44, and BR3 monoclonal antibodies. Staining was less prominent with Bu20a but was more specific. Protease antigen recovery may decrease the specificity of BrdUrd immunodetection. Appropriate controls are required when enzymatic digestion is used to detect incorporated BrdUrd in formalin-fixed tissue. The type and duration of fixation, antibody to BrdUrd, protease, and tissue may affect the specificity of the staining pattern. (J Histochem Cytochem 45:1165–1170, 1997)


1997 ◽  
Vol 45 (11) ◽  
pp. 1455-1459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reinhard von Wasielewski ◽  
Michael Mengel ◽  
Suzanne Gignac ◽  
Ludwig Wilkens ◽  
Martin Werner ◽  
...  

Signal amplification in immunohistochemistry via binding of biotinylated tyramine to proteins near the site of peroxidase-labeled antibodies is a promising new technique, but studies investigating a wide range of markers are lacking. The tyramine amplification technique (TAT) was investigated on 85 antibodies using a simple and fast protocol, and TAT results were compared to those obtained with conventional immunohistochemistry. Using TAT, most of the markers could be 5- to 50-fold further diluted and still showed identical staining results compared with standard stainings (maximal 500-fold). However, the variable reactivity of the different markers with TAT underlines the need for individual testing of every antibody to determine the optimal dilution. Some antibodies against cell adhesion molecules could be demonstrated for the first time in archival, formalin-fixed tissue sections. TAT, if carefully evaluated, offers a revolutionary improvement for modern immunostaining, either to increase sensitivity or primary antibody dilutions (cost reduction). From a methodological point of view, immunohistochemistry has not reached its limits by far and TAT is an important progressive step in this developmental process. (J Histochem Cytochem 45:1455–1459, 1997)


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