Immunohistochemical Staining: A Method for Obtaining Spatial Information from Thin Tissue Sections

Abstract

Source: Baharom F. et al., Human Lung Dendritic Cells: Spatial Distribution and Phenotypic Identification in Endobronchial Biopsies Using Immunohistochemistry and Flow Cytometry. J. Vis. Exp. (2017)

This video describes the immunohistochemical staining technique to identify dendritic cells from endobronchial biopsies.

Protocol

1. GMA sectioning.

1. Prepare 0.05% ammonia solution with distilled water. Place the glass knife and biopsy in the microtome. Carefully align the biopsy block with the blade by adjusting the knife holder and the angle of the biopsy block so that the blade rests flat against the surface of the block.
2. Cut 2 µm thick sections using the microtome on a slow cutting speed and use forceps to transfer and float out sections on the ammonia water. Float the sections for 45-90 sec, allowing gentle antigen retrieval and unfolding of the section.
3. Pick up sections with microscope slide. Check the biopsy histology by quickly staining with toluidine ....

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
GMA sectioning
Glass microscope slides	ThermoFisher Scientific	10143562CEF	Cut edges, frosted end
Poly-L-Lysine solution	Sigma-Aldrich	P8920-500mL	1:10 for working solution
Sheet glass strips for ultramicrotomy	Alkar
Tween 20	Sigma-Aldrich	P2287	Wash solution (0.1% Tween20)
LKB 7800B Knifemaker	LKB
Capsule splitter	TAAB laboratories	C065
Carbon steel single edge blades	TAAB laboratories	B054
Vice
Ammonia, 25%	VWR	1133.1	2 ml in 1 L, 1:500 (0.05%)
Microtome	Leica		Leica RM 2165
Light source	Leica		Leica CLS 150 XE
Microscope with swing arm stand	Leica		Leica MZ6
GMA Immunohistochemistry
Diamond tipped pen	Histolab	5218
Hydrogen peroxide 30% solution	AnalaR Normapur	23619.264
Sodium azide	Sigma-Aldrich	S8032
Tris	Roche	10708976001
Sodium chloride	VWR chemicals	27810.295
Bovine serum albumin	Millipore	82-045-2	Probumin BSA diagnostic grade
Dulbecco's modified eagle medium (DMEM)	Sigma-Aldrich	D5546
Anti-human CD45 antibody	BioLegend	304002	Mouse monoclonal, clone HI30, isotype IgG1k. Working concentration of 500 ng/ml
Anti-human CD1a antibody AbD	Serotech	MCA80GA	Mouse monoclonal, clone NA1/34- HLK, isotype IgG2a. Working concentration of 10 µg/ml
Mouse monoclonal IgG1 isotype control	Abcam	ab27479
Mouse monoclonal IgG2a isotype control	Dako	X094301-2
Vectastain ABC Elite standard kit	Vector Labs	PK-6100
AEC (3-amino-9-ethylcarbazole) peroxidase substrate kite	Vector Labs	SK-4200
Mayers haematoxylin	HistoLab	1820
Permanent Aqueous Mounting Medium	AbD Serotech	BUF058C
Drying oven
DPX permanent mounting solution	VWR	360292F
Light microscope	Leica		Leica DMLB
Microscope camera	Leica		Leica DFC 320
Analysis software	Leica		Leica Qwin V3