This video demonstrates procedures for characterization of human pancreatic islets using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Pancreatic sections from head, body, and tail regions are stained by both H&E and IHC to determine islet endocrine composition (insulin, glucagon, and pancreatic polypeptide), cell replication (Ki67), and inflammatory infiltrates (H&E, CD3). The uncinate region is localized using IHC for pancreatic polypeptide.
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Method Article
Staining Protocols for Human Pancreatic Islets
In This Article
Summary
Abstract
Estimates of islet area and numbers and endocrine cell composition in the adult human pancreas vary from several hundred thousand to several million and beta mass ranges from 500 to 1500 mg 1-3. With this known heterogeneity, a standard processing and staining procedure was developed so that pancreatic regions were clearly defined and islets characterized using rigorous histopathology and immunolocalization examinations.
Standardized procedures for processing human pancreas recovered from organ donors are described in part 1 of this series. The pancreas is processed into 3 main regions (head, body, tail) followed by transverse sections. Transverse sections from the pancreas head are further divided, as indicated based on size, and numbered alphabetically to denote subsections. This standardization allows for a complete cross sectional analysis of the head region including the uncinate region which contains islets composed primarily of pancreatic polypeptide cells to the tail region.
The current report comprises part 2 of this series and describes the procedures used for serial sectioning and histopathological characterization of the pancreatic paraffin sections with an emphasis on islet endocrine cells, replication, and T-cell infiltrates. Pathology of pancreatic sections is intended to characterize both exocrine, ductular, and endocrine components. The exocrine compartment is evaluated for the presence of pancreatitis (active or chronic), atrophy, fibrosis, and fat, as well as the duct system, particularly in relationship to the presence of pancreatic intraductal neoplasia4. Islets are evaluated for morphology, size, and density, endocrine cells, inflammation, fibrosis, amyloid, and the presence of replicating or apoptotic cells using H&E and IHC stains.
The final component described in part 2 is the provision of the stained slides as digitized whole slide images. The digitized slides are organized by case and pancreas region in an online pathology database creating a virtual biobank. Access to this online collection is currently provided to over 200 clinicians and scientists involved in type 1 diabetes research. The online database provides a means for rapid and complete data sharing and for investigators to select blocks for paraffin or frozen serial sections.
Protocol
1. Microtomy for Unstained Sections
- Set up water bath and microtome as for standard paraffin microtomy. Use positively charged slides and pre-label with case number, pancreas region (sample) and slide number. Place paraffin block in the microtome chuck with the cassette label on the left side.
- Follow normal microtomy procedures, section into block until tissue is uniformly encountered. Produce a ribbon of serial sections (4 μm thick, 3-6 depending on number of initial required stains (See Case Submission Form, Appendix 1)). Separate sections in the ribbon, pick up each in order, and place on slides with order numbered with ....
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Discussion
Standardization of IHC procedures is critical for image analysis, particularly when using computer-based algorithms across large numbers of slides over time. The IHC staining procedure described in this report will allow batch analysis of a given donor's samples using an autostainer within an 8-hour work day and are modified from a previous report 5. Digitized whole slide images of each stained slide made available to nPOD-affiliated investigators through the web-based online pathology system. Investiga.......
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Disclosures
No conflicts of interest declared.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the donors' families and the Organ Procurement Organizations involved in this research and Emily Montgomery, Robert Pietras, Ann Fu, Mitali Agarwal, and Roshan Agarwal for their expert assistance. This work was funded by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (M.C-T.) in support of the Network for Pancreatic Organ Donors with Diabetes.
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Materials
| Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30% Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) | Fisher Scientific | H325-500 | Endogenous peroxidase blocking |
| ABC-Alkaline Phosphatase (AP) | Vector Laboratories | AK-5000 | AP conjugate |
| Antibody Diluent | Invitrogen | 003218 | Primary antibody |
| Avidin blocker | Vector Laboratories | SP-2001 | Block endogenous biotin |
| Biotinylated Goat anti-guinea pig | Vector Laboratories | BA-7000 | Secondary antibody |
| Bluing Reagent | Fisher Scientific | 7301 | Leica autostainer |
| Citrate buffer, pH 6.0 | BioGenex | HK086-9K | Antigen retrieval |
| Clarifier 1 | Fisher Scientific | 7401 | Leica autostainer |
| Cytoseal XYL | Fisher Scientific | 8312-4 | Coverslip mountant |
| DAB | Vector Laboratories | SK-4100 | HRP chromogen |
| DEEB | Dako | S2003 | Endogenous AP blocking reagent |
| Eosin Y Alcoholic | Fisher Scientific | 71204 | Leica autostainer |
| Ethanols- 100%, 95%, 90%, 70% | Fisher Scientific | Various | Deparaffinization and coverslipping |
| Hematoxylin | Dako | S3301 | Dako autostainer |
| Hematoxylin 7211 | Fisher Scientific | 7211 | Leica autostainer |
| IgG (all host species for primary antibodies) | Various | Various | Negative controls for primaries |
| Liquid Permanent Red (LPR) | Dako | K0640 | AP chromogen |
| Mach2 AP | Biocare Medical | MALP521L | Goat anti-Mouse AP conjugate |
| Mach2 HRP | Biocare Medical | MHRP520L | Goat anti-Mouse HRP conjugate |
| Mach2 HRP | Biocare Medical | RHRP520L | Goat anti-Mouse HRP conjugate |
| Methanol | Fisher Scientific | Various | H2O2 diluent |
| Normal goat serum | Vector Laboratories | S-1000 | IHC blocking reagent |
| Sniper | Biocare Medical | BS966M | IHC blocking reagent |
| TBST 20X | Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. | TA-999-TT | IHC buffer |
| Triology 20x | Cell Marque | 920P-06 | Antigen Retrieval |
| Xylene | Fisher Scientific | Various | Deparaffinization and coverslipping |
| Table 1. Specific reagents. | |||
| [header] | |||
| Paraffin | |||
| Amylase | Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc. | SC-46657 | Mouse |
| Amylin | Serotec | MCA11267 | Mouse |
| Carbonic anhydrase 19.9 | Abcam | ab15146 | Mouse |
| Caspase-3, cleaved | Cell Signaling Technology | 9961 | Rabbit |
| CD20 | Dako | M0755 | Mouse |
| CD3 | Dako | A0452 | Rabbit |
| CD34 | Cell Signaling Technology | 3569 | Mouse |
| CD4 | Dako | M7310 | Mouse |
| CD45 | Dako | M0754 | Mouse |
| CD68 | Dako | M0876 | Mouse |
| CD8 | Dako | M7103 | Mouse |
| Chromogranin A | Dako | A0430 | Rabbit |
| CK17 | Dako | M7046 | Mouse |
| CK19 | Dako | M0772 | Mouse |
| CK7 | Dako | M7018 | Mouse |
| C-peptide | Cell Signaling Technology | 4593 | Rabbit |
| Foxp3 | e Bioscience | 14-4776-80 | Rat |
| Ghrelin | Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc. | SC-10386 | Goat |
| Ghrelin | Abcam | ab85104 | Rabbit |
| Glucagon | Dako | A0565 | Rabbit |
| Glucagon | Abcam | ab10988 | Mouse |
| Glucagon | Bachem | T-5037 | Guinea Pig |
| Glut-1 | Abcam | ab40084 | Mouse |
| Glut-2 | Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc. | SC-9117 | Rabbit |
| Insulin | Dako | A0564 | Guinea Pig |
| Ki-67 | Dako | M7240 | Mouse |
| Mafa | Novus Biological | NB400-137A | Rabbit |
| Pancreatic polypeptide | Invitrogen | 18-0043 | Rabbit |
| Pdx-1 | Abcam | ab47308 | Guinea Pig |
| Proinsulin | Novocastra | NCL-proin-1G4 | Mouse |
| Proinsulin | Developmental Studies Hybridoma Bank | GS-9A8 | Mouse |
| Secretagogin | Sigma-Aldrich | HPA 006641 | Rabbit |
| Smooth muscle actin | Abcam | ab5694 | Rabbit |
| Somatostatin | Dako | A0566 | Rabbit |
| Synaptophysin | Dako | M0776 | Mouse |
| Fresh Frozen | |||
| CD11b | Abcam | ab6332 | Rat |
| CD11c | Serotec | AHP1226 | Rabbit |
| CD25 | Novus Biological | NB 600-564 | Mouse |
| CD94 | Abcam | ab61874 | Mouse |
| GAD65 | Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc. | SC-130569 | Mouse |
| HLA-ABC | Dako | M0736 | Mouse |
| Table 2. Primary antibodies. | |||
| [header] | |||
| Aperio Scanscope CS | Aperio Technologies | Digital slide scanner | |
| DAKO Autostainer Plus | Dako | IHC stains | |
| Label Matrix printing software | BioCarta | LM7UP57 | Slide label software |
| Leica XL Autostainer | Leica Microsystems | H&E stains | |
| Premium Coverglass | Fisher Scientific | 12-548-5J | Coverslip |
| Spectrum Information Manager | Aperio Technologies | Scanner software | |
| Superfrost Plus slides | Fisher Scientific | 12-550-15 | Positively charged slides |
| Vegetable steamer | Black and Decker | Various | Antigen retrieval |
| Zebra TLP 3742 | CDWG | TLP3742 | Slide label printer |
| Table 3. Specific supplies and equipment. |
References
- In't Veld, P., Marichal, M. Microscopic anatomy of the human islet of Langerhans. Adv. Exp. Med. Biol. 654, 1-19 (2010).
- Matveyenko, A. V., Butler, P. C. Relationship between beta-cell mass and diabetes onset. Diabetes Obes. Metab. 10, Suppl . 4. 23-31 (2008). ....
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