scholarly journals Simultaneous in situ detection of mRNA and apoptotic cells by combined hybridization and TUNEL.

1996 ◽  
Vol 44 (12) ◽  
pp. 1497-1499 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Sträter ◽  
H Walczak ◽  
P H Krammer ◽  
P Möller

We established a new method to allow simultaneous in situ detection of mRNA expression and apoptotic DNA fragmentation in paraffin-embedded tissue sections. We used human thymic tissue to perform in situ hybridization with a digoxigenin-labeled CD95 (APO-1/Fas) ligand (CD95L)-specific probe followed by TdT-mediated biotin dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) of apoptotic DNA fragments. Bound probes were visualized by an immunogold-silver enhancement technique and fragmented DNA was detected with a streptavidin-peroxidase system. This double labeling technique produced a distinct, dark cytoplasmic staining of CD95L mRNA-expressing cells and an intense red nuclear precipitate in apoptotic cells or bodies. This technique will be a useful tool for microtopographical analysis of apoptosis-related gene expression.

1995 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 253-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry F. Oettinger ◽  
Amelie Rodrigue-Way ◽  
Joyce J. Bousquet ◽  
Albert S.B. Edge

Using a digoxygenin-labelled DNA probe derived from the porcine repeat element PRE-1, we have developed a protocol for the detection of transplanted porcine islets and hepatocytes against a background of murine host tissue. Analysis of this probe by Southern blotting indicated that PRE-1 hybridizes to pig genomic DNA but not to human or mouse DNA. On tissue sections, hybridizing probe was detected using alkaline phosphatase-conjugated anti-digoxygenin antibody visualized with 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-phosphate/4-nitro-blue tetrazolium chloride (BCIP/ NBT) substrate. We have demonstrated sensitive and highly specific staining of porcine nuclei in fixed, paraffin embedded tissue sections, and have applied the technique to detect porcine pancreatic islets and hepatocytes transplanted into murine kidney and spleen. Applications of this technique include detection of transplanted cells or organs across a variety of xenogeneic barriers.


1993 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
J H Wijsman ◽  
R R Jonker ◽  
R Keijzer ◽  
C J van de Velde ◽  
C J Cornelisse ◽  
...  

Apoptosis (programmed cell death) can be difficult to detect in routine histological sections. Since extensive DNA fragmentation is an important characteristic of this process, visualization of DNA breaks could greatly facilitate the identification of apoptotic cells. We describe a new staining method for formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections that involves an in situ end-labeling (ISEL) procedure. After protease treatment to permeate the tissue sections, biotinylated nucleotides are in situ incorporated into DNA breaks by polymerase and subsequently stained with DAB via peroxidase-conjugated avidin. Staining of cells with the morphological characteristics of apoptosis was demonstrated in tissues known to exhibit programmed cell death, i.e., prostate and uterus after castration, tumors, lymph node follicles, and embryos. Apoptotic cells could be discriminated morphologically from areas of labeled necrotic cells, in which DNA degradation also occurs. Because apoptosis is relatively easily recognized in H&E-stained sections of involuting prostates of castrated rats, we used this model system to validate the ISEL method for the quantification of apoptotic cells. A high correlation was found between the fractions of ISEL-labeled cells and the fractions of apoptotic cells that were morphologically determined in adjacent sections. We conclude that ISEL is a useful technique for quantification of apoptosis in paraffin sections, especially for those tissues in which morphological determination is difficult. Furthermore, this new staining method enables the use of automated image cytometry for evaluating apoptosis.


2003 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 751-760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arno Schad ◽  
H. Dariush Fahimi ◽  
Alfred Völkl ◽  
Eveline Baumgart

Catalase, the classical peroxisomal marker enzyme, decomposes hydrogen peroxide and is involved in the antioxidant defense mechanisms of mammalian cells. In addition, catalase can oxidize, by means of its peroxidatic activity, a variety of substrates such as methanol and ethanol, producing the corresponding aldehydes. The involvement of brain catalase in the oxidation of ethanol is well established, and severe afflictions of the CNS in hereditary peroxisomal diseases (e.g., Zellweger syndrome) are well known. Whereas the distribution of catalase in the CNS has been investigated by enzyme histochemistry and immunohistochemistry (IHC), very little is known about the exact localization of catalase mRNA in brain. Here we report the application of a tyramine/CARD (catalyzed reporter deposition)-enhanced nonradioactive in situ hybridization (ISH) protocol for detection of catalase mRNA in sections of perfusion-fixed, paraffin-embedded rat brain. Catalase mRNA could be demonstrated in a large number of neurons throughout the rat brain as a distinct cytoplasmic staining signal with excellent morphological resolution. Compared to our standard ISH protocol, the CARD-enhanced protocol for catalase mRNA detection in rat brain showed higher sensitivity and significantly better signal-to-noise ratio. In parallel IHC experiments, using an antigen retrieval method consisting of combined trypsin digestion and microwave treatment of paraffin sections, the catalase antigen was found as distinct cytoplasmic granules in most catalase mRNA-positive neurons. In addition, catalase-positive granules, presumably peroxisomes, were found by confocal laser scanning microscopy in glial cells, which were identified by double labeling immunofluorescence for GFAP and CNPase for astroglial cells and oligodentrocytes, respectively. The excellent preservation of morphology and sensitive detection of both mRNA and protein in our preparations warrant the application of the protocols described here for systematic studies of catalase and other peroxisomal proteins in diverse pathological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and aging.


1995 ◽  
Vol 103 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
J�rn Str�ter ◽  
Andreas R. G�nthert ◽  
Silke Br�derlein ◽  
Peter M�ller

1997 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A Hilton ◽  
Seth Love ◽  
Rachel Barber

The recognition of apoptotic cells by morphological appearance alone may be difficult. We have investigated the use of in situ hybridization (ISH) with digoxigenin-labeled poly(A) probes to detect apoptotic cells in tissue sections. This method was compared to conventional morphologic assessment and in situ end-labeling (ISEL) in a range of tissues in which apoptosis is known to occur. ISH with poly(A) probes detected apoptotic nuclei in all tissues in which there was evidence of apoptosis as judged by conventional histology. ISH and, to a lesser extent, ISEL preferentially labeled shrunken but still intact nuclei with margination of chromatin, presumably at an early stage of apoptosis. The poly(A) hybridization was abolished by pretreatment of tissue sections with DNAse. After denaturation of DNA, poly(A) hybridized to nuclei in all cells. No convincing hybridization signal was detected in alcohol-fixed or fresh-frozen sections. Both ISEL and ISH labeled some of the nuclei in ischemic tissues. ISH with poly(A) oligonucleotide probes offers a simple alternative to ISEL for detection of cells in early stages of apoptosis. These probes hybridize to thymidine-rich sequences of DNA in the highly repeated Alu sequences within the nuclear genome. These sequences are believed to become available for hybridization after formalin fixation and paraffin embedding as a result of the apoptosis-related increase in the susceptibility of nuclear DNA to denaturation.


2003 ◽  
Vol 51 (7) ◽  
pp. 913-919 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walid Jalabi ◽  
Mirela Cerghet ◽  
Robert P. Skoff ◽  
M. Said Ghandour

Oligodendrocytes, the myelin-forming cells in the central nervous system, were visualized with excellent resolution at the light microscopic level using in situ hybridization (ISH). Digoxigenin (Dig)-tagged probes were synthesized and efficiently labeled by PCR. Specific probes to myelin genes were made by RT from brain total RNAs, followed by PCR with designed specific primers in the presence of Dig-11-dUTP. Probes specific to proteolipid protein (PLP), PLP and its isoform DM20 (PLP/DM20), and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) were synthesized and labeled. ISH was then applied on vibratomed tissue sections from mouse brains. Despite a low expression of MOG-specific and PLP-specific mRNAs in adult and newborn mouse brains, an oligodendrocyte population was detected. The specificity of Dig-labeled probes was confirmed with the double labeling of carbonic anhydrase II (CA II) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunocytochemistry and ISH. This versatile and easy method for synthesis and labeling of specific probes to oligodendrocytes can be also applied to detect many other mRNAs in the nervous system and in other tissues.


1992 ◽  
Vol 119 (4) ◽  
pp. 961-975 ◽  
Author(s):  
G David ◽  
X M Bai ◽  
B Van der Schueren ◽  
J J Cassiman ◽  
H Van den Berghe

Two mAbs that are specific for heparan sulfate-related epitopes have been raised and used to analyze the cellular and tissular distribution of this glycosaminoglycan during development. mAb 10E4 reacts with an epitope that occurs in native heparan sulfate chains and that is destroyed by N-desulfation of the glycosaminoglycan. The antibody does not react with hyaluronate, chondroitin sulfate, or DNA, and reacts only poorly with heparin. The reactivity of proteoglycan extracts or tissue sections with the 10E4 antibody is completely abolished by heparitinase, but is only partially affected by heparinase. mAb 3G10, in contrast, reacts only with heparitinase-treated heparan sulfate chains, proteoglycans, or tissue sections. The 3G10 epitope is destroyed by treatment with mercuric acetate, which indicates that the desaturated uronate generated by the lyase is essential for the reactivity of the antibody. The 3G10 epitope is not generated by treating heparan sulfate proteoglycans with heparinase or chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans with chondroitin sulfate lyases, which indicates that the 3G10 antibody recognizes desaturated uronates that occur in specific structural contexts. The antibody 10E4 and, after heparitinase treatment, the antibody 3G10 decorate the surfaces of many cell types and the extracellular matrix in proximity of the cells, in particular, the basement membranes. The analysis of embryonic and adult tissues reveals important temporal and regional differences in the abundance of the 10E4 and 3G10 epitopes at these sites. Moreover, the staining pattern of the two antibodies is not always superimposable, which is indicative of regional differences in the exposure or structure of the tissular heparan sulfates. As a whole the results suggest that heparan sulfate abounds at sites of active morphogenesis and that the expression of this glycosaminoglycan is developmentally regulated.


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