Antibodies to neurofilament protein and other brain proteins reveal the innervation of peripheral organs

Summary Monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to neurofilament proteins, neuron-specific enolase, glial fibrillary acidic protein and S-100 have been used to demonstrate nerves, ganglion cells and the supportive glial system of the innervation of various organs. The female genitalia, the urinary tract, the respiratory system, the pancreas, the heart and the skin of several mammalian species, including rat, mouse, guinea pig, cat, pig, monkey and man were fixed in parabenzoquinone and portions of each organ were snap frozen. Serial or free-floating thick cryostat sections were stained using indirect immunofluorescence and peroxidase anti-peroxidase immunocytochemistry. In addition, the newly described and highly sensitive immunogold-silver staining technique was used on Bouin's-fixed and wax-embedded tissues.Antibodies to neurofilament proteins seemed to react with neuronal structures in all the species studied. Alternately stained serial sections showed a similar distribution of neurofilament proteins and neuron-specific enolase-containing nerves. Neuron-specific enolase staining had a diffuse appearance and was found to be highly variable, indicating that the neuron-specific enolase content might be related to the physiological state of the nerves and ganglion cells, whereas antibodies to neurofilament protein gave a consistently intense and very clear picture of the ganglion cells and nerve fibres. Antibodies to S-100 stained supportive elements of the peripheral nervous system in all tissues examined, whereas antibodies to glial fibrillary acidic protein were more selective.Abbreviations GFAP glial fibrillary acidic protein - NSE neuron-specific enolase - PBS phosphate-buffered saline - PAP peroxidase anti-peroxidase - FITC fluorescein-isothiocyanate     

Antibodies to neurofilament protein and other brain proteins reveal the innervation of peripheral organs

Monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to neurofilament proteins, neuron-specific enolase, glial fibrillary acidic protein and S-100 have been used to demonstrate nerves, ganglion cells and the supportive glial system of the innervation of various organs. The female genitalia, the urinary tract, the respiratory system, the pancreas, the heart and the skin of several mammalian species, including rat, mouse, guinea pig, cat, pig, monkey and man were fixed in para-benzoquinone and portions of each organ were snap frozen. Serial or free-floating thick cryostat sections were stained using indirect immunofluorescence and peroxidase anti-peroxidase immunocytochemistry. In addition, the newly described and highly sensitive immunogold-silver staining technique was used on Bouin's-fixed and wax-embedded tissues. Antibodies to neurofilament proteins seemed to react with neuronal structures in all the species studied. Alternately stained serial sections showed a similar distribution of neurofilament proteins and neuron-specific enolase-containing nerves. Neuron-specific enolase staining had a diffuse appearance and was found to be highly variable, indicating that the neuron-specific enolase content might be related to the physiological state of the nerves and ganglion cells, whereas antibodies to neurofilament protein gave a consistently intense and very clear picture of the ganglion cells and nerve fibres. Antibodies to S-100 stained supportive elements of the peripheral nervous system in all tissues examined, whereas antibodies to glial fibrillary acidic protein were more selective.     

Immunocytochemical detection of oncomodulin in tumor tissue

Using the rat hepatoma calcium-binding protein, oncomodulin, from Morris hepatoma 5123tc, an antiserum has been raised in rabbits useful for immunostaining of this tumor protein. The peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) technique has been used to demonstrate oncomodulin in sections of Morris rat hepatomas 5123D, 5123tc, 7288Ctc, and 7777 fixed with Bouin's or Carnoy's fixatives, or using freeze substitution. Oncomodulin-specific staining was also shown by a hepatoma metastasis in lung. Optimal conditions for the indirect fluorescent antibody technique were established to demonstrate oncomodulin in virally transformed NRK cells (ASV-NRK). In both tumors and cultured neoplastic cells staining appeared which suggested that oncomodulin might occur in nucleus and cytoplasm. Normal untransformed tissues and uninfected cells did not show oncomodulin staining.     

Influence of fixatives on the immunoreactivity of paraffin sections

Summary The unlabelled antibody peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) technique was used to demonstrate IgA in paraffin sections of human tonsil fixed in eight commonly known fixatives. In all but one of the fixatives, treatment with trypsin prior to immunostaining resulted either in digestion of sections, or no change in positive staining. In tissues fixed in neutral buffered formalin-saline, positive staining was absent unless the sections had been treated with trypsin, and it has been shown that digestion requirements of different areas throughout a section may vary according to the effectiveness of fixation.     

An immunogold-silver staining method for detection of cell surface antigens in cell smears

We developed an indirect immunogold-silver staining method for detection of leukocyte cell surface antigens in cell smears. Air-dried and fixed cytocentrifuge preparations or smears of peripheral blood leukocytes were incubated with monoclonal antibodies (MAb) and colloidal gold-labeled secondary antibodies. The preparations were post-fixed and silver enhancement was performed. The smears were counterstained with May-Grunwald-Giemsa and examined in brightfield light microscopy. The morphology of the cells was well preserved. Leukocytes reacting with the MAb showed black granules on their surface membranes. The intense immunostaining and the low background allowed a rapid enumeration of the positive cells. The labeling could be detected with high sensitivity by epipolarization microscopy. This immunogold-silver staining method was used to quantify T- and B-lymphocytes and natural killer cells in buffy coat smears of normal adult blood. These lymphocyte subsets correlated well with those obtained in smears with the alkaline phosphatase-anti-alkaline phosphatase (APAAP) method and with those found by labeling of mononuclear cells in suspension with immunogold-silver staining. This immunogold-silver staining method forms a good alternative to immunoenzyme methods for study of hematologic cells. In addition, it could be a general procedure for detection of cell surface antigens in all kinds of cell smears.     

Neuromodulators of the lingual von Ebner gland: an immunocytochemical study.

The serous lingual glands of von Ebner secrete lingual lipase, an enzyme that begins fat digestion in the stomach. The objective of this study was to characterize the neuromodulators in the rat tongue and von Ebner glands using immunocytochemical techniques. Rat lingual tissues were fixed in formalin, embedded in paraffin and sectioned at 4 microns for light microscopic studies. Immunocytochemical localization of neuromodulators was performed with monospecific anti-rat neuromodulator IgG or control (preimmune) IgG as the primary antibody, using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) technique. No staining was seen with control anti-rat IgG. Immunospecific staining for vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), tyrosine hydroxylase and choline acetyltransferase (CHAT) was observed in nerves in the tongue, and cells containing immunospecific staining for serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) were seen in the stroma between the lingual glands. Selected cells in the serous glands stained positively for the presence of substance P and somatostatin. Adrenergic, VIP-containing and cholinergic nerves appear to innervate the tongue and serous glands. Substance P and somatostatin were identified in cells of the lingual serous glands and may be additional local modulators regulating lingual lipase release.     

Simultaneous immunostaining method for localization of bromodeoxyuridine and calcitonin gene-related peptide.

A new simultaneous double immunostaining method has been optimized to localize the DNA synthesis marker bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in endocrine cells of Bouin's-fixed, paraffin-embedded rat lung. Nuclease pre-treatment before immunostaining is compatible with optimal tissue morphology and CGRP antigenicity preservation. Nickel-enhanced development of avidin-biotin-peroxidase staining is used to show CGRP immunoreactivity in black and alkaline phosphatase-anti-alkaline phosphatase is applied to demonstrate incorporated BrdU in red. The present methodology could be useful for studies requiring detection of incorporated BrdU in cells producing regulatory peptides or other labile antigens.     

Neuromodulators of the lingual von Ebner gland: an immunocytochemical study

Summary The serous lingual glands of von Ebner secrete lingual lipase, an enzyme that begins fat digestion in the stomach. The objective of this study was to characterize the neuromodulators in the rat tongue and von Ebner glands using immunocytochemical techniques. Rat lingual tissues were fixed in formalin, embedded in paraffin and sectioned at 4 m for light microscopic studies. Immunocytochemical localization of neuromodulators was performed with monospecific anti-rat neuromodulator IgG or control (preimmune) IgG as the primary antibody, using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) technique. No staining was seen with control antirat IgG. Immunospecific staining for vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), tyrosine hydroxylase and choline acetyltransferase (CHAT) was observed in nerves in the tongue, and cells containing immunospecific staining for serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) were seen in the stroma between the lingual glands. Selected cells in the serous glands stained positively for the presence of substance P and somatostatin. Adrenergic, VIP-containing and cholinergic nerves appear to innervate the tongue and serous glands. Substance P and somatostatin were identified in cells of the lingual serous glands and may be additional local modulators regulating lingual lipase release.     

Chemical coding of endocrine cells of the airways: presence of helodermin-like peptides

Summary The epithelium of the airways is rich in endocrine cells containing serotonin and/or a wide variety of regulatory peptides. These cells usually occur in clusters in the lungs but are also found scattered in the larynx and trachea. In the present study, endocrine cells in the airways of mouse, rat, hamster, guinea pig, pig, sheep and squirrel monkey were examined for the presence of serotonin, helodermin-like peptides and other regulatory peptides using immunocytochemistry and radioimmunoassay. In addition, we looked for the protein gene product 9.5 (PGP), which occurs in many peptide hormone-producing endocrine cells in the body. Both clustered and scattered endocrine cells in the airways were found to display coexistence of serotonin and peptides, such as a helodermin-like peptide, calcitonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). The PGP-immunoreactive cells were numerous and included elements containing serotonin and/or regulatory peptides. An additional PGP-immunoreactive endocrine cell population lacked serotonin and regulatory peptides. Helodermin-immunoreactive material was demonstrated in endocrine cells of the airways in the mouse and hamster but not in any of the other species studied. Serotonin was an endocrine cell constituent in all the species studied. Calcitonin and CGRP could be demonstrated by immunocytochemistry in the mouse, rat, and hamster, but not in the guinea pig, sheep, pig and monkey. In the hamster airways double immunostaining indicated that the helodermin-like peptide occurred in a subpopulation of the CGRP- and serotonin-containing cells. Most of the CGRP-containing cells stored serotonin; some of them also contained calcitonin. The chemical coding of these cells resembled that of the thyroid C cells.     

Immunostaining for allatotropin and allatostatin-A and -C in the mosquitoes <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aedes aegypti</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anopheles albimanus</Emphasis>

Confocal laser-scanning microscopy was used to carry out a comparative study of the immunostaining for three families of neuropeptides, viz., allatostatin-A (AS-A), allatostatin-C (AS-C) and allatotropin (AT), in adult female mosquitoes of Aedes aegypti and Anopheles albimanus. The specific patterns of immunostaining for each of the three peptides were similar in both species. The antisera raised against AT, AS-A, and AS-C revealed intense immunoreactivity in the cells of each protocerebral lobe of the brain and stained cells in each of the ventral ganglia and neuronal projections innervating various thoracic and abdominal tissues. Only the AS-A antiserum labeled immunoreactive endocrine cells in the midgut. The distribution of the peptides supports the concept that they play multiple regulatory roles in both species.This work was supported by NIH grant AI 45545 to F.G.N. and CONACyT G-37186-M to M.H.R.     

Immunocytochemical localization of a tartrate-resistant and vanadate-sensitive acid nucleotide tri- and diphosphatase

Purified rabbit antiserum to a tartrate-resistant and vanadate-sensitive acid phosphatase (nucleotide tri- and diphosphatase) prepared from rat bone was used in immunocytochemical studies. The antigen was localized in sections of fixed, decalcified tissue (head from rat) using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase bridge (PAP) or the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) technique. Both techniques resulted in similar and specific immunostaining in the following cells and tissues: osteoclasts situated in resorption lacunae, epithelium overlying enamel-free areas of tips of cusps of unerupted molars, cilia of respiratory epithelium, and tissue macrophages. This distribution corresponds to the cellular sites of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity, as revealed by enzyme histochemistry. With the ABC method, staining in osteoclasts was obtained with antiserum dilutions of up to 1:10,000. Biochemical studies revealed that vanadate-sensitive acid ATPase activity in liver subcellular fractions was almost exclusively confined to lysosomes. Thus, the immunostaining has revealed the presence of the tartrate-resistant and vanadate-sensitive nucleotide phosphatase in many cells associated with tissue resorption and phagocytosis.     

Increased sensitivity in immunocytochemistry. Effects of double application of antibodies and of silver intensification on immunogold and peroxidase-antiperoxidase staining techniques

Sensitivity and detection efficiency of immunocytochemical methods were tested on cytochemical models and tissue material, respectively. Use of silver intensification procedures revealed that staining with immunogold reagents could be rendered equally or even more sensitive than the standard peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) method. Further increases in sensitivity with both methods could be obtained by double application of the primary antiserum. Combined use of the immunogold techniques and the PAP method with development in diaminobenzidine and subsequent silver intensification resulted in the most sensitive procedures. The procedures were applied to a wide variety of tissue preparations, including whole mount preparations of the external longitudinal muscle layer of the gut wall and were found not to produce any unspecific staining in any tissue tested. Use of immunogold-silver and, particularly of the combined immunogold-silver-PAP methods may be valuable for analyzing tissues and tumours containing small amounts of antigen, for testing the quality of immunogold staining procedures intended for ultrastructural studies and for electroblotting techniques.     

PD-L1 Expression in Normal Endocrine Tissues Is Not Increased Despite High Incidence of PD-1 Inhibitor-Associated Endocrinopathies

ObjectiveTreatment with immune-checkpoint inhibitors often results in endocrine immune-related adverse events (irAEs), affecting the pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, and parathyroid glands and pancreas. The mechanism underlying the endocrine irAEs has not been fully elucidated, and it remains unclear why endocrine organs are so commonly affected. In the present study, we evaluated immunostaining patterns of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) in normal endocrine tissues to determine whether increased expression may explain the predilection of endocrinopathies in patients treated with programmed cell death-1 inhibitors.MethodsNormal formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded endocrine tissues (pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, pancreas, and parathyroid) were collected from our hospital’s pathology tissue archive. The tissues were assessed for membranous and cytoplasmic PD-L1 immunostaining using the Dako 22C3 pharmDx assay on an automated staining platform.ResultsWe examined 49 endocrine tissues, including 12 thyroid, 5 pancreatic, 17 adrenal, 5 parathyroid, and 10 pituitary samples. Samples with less than 1% membranous PD-L1–positive cells were considered negative, while those with more than 1% of PD-L1 membranous staining were considered positive. Immunostaining result of immune-related cells was also evaluated, considering the cytoplasmic PD-L1–positive cells with the same cutoff of 1%. None of the endocrine tissues demonstrated PD-L1 positivity higher than 1% in the relevant cells.ConclusionWhile our results do not suggest a role of PD-L1 expression in the pathogenesis of endocrine irAEs, they may serve as a basis for future studies further investigating the mechanisms of autoimmune, inflammatory, or malignant endocrine conditions.     

Immunocytochemical detection of ornithine decarboxylase.

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), a regulatory enzyme of polyamine biosynthesis, is involved in cell growth and differentiation. Lack of information about the exact cellular and subcellular localization of ODC is one of the main obstacles to precise interpretation of the biological roles of the ODC/polyamine system. Here we describe the development and optimization of an immunocytochemical method to detect ODC in cells and tissues. For this purpose a monoclonal antibody (MP16-2) against a defined epitope of ODC protein was developed. Specificity of the antibody for ODC was substantiated by Western blotting and ELISA analysis using cell and tissue homogenates. In cultured cells, optimal staining results were obtained after fixation with crosslinking fixatives followed by permeabilization with methanol. In rat tissues, ODC immunoreactivity was best preserved in paraffin sections fixed with Bouin's fixative. Antigen retrieval using SDS and citrate buffer substantially increased ODC immunostaining and decreased background staining. Localization studies of ODC in different cell lines showed that strongest staining for ODC was found in the nucleoplasm of mitotic cells, whereas confluent cells showed moderate perinuclear staining. Immunocytochemical studies of various rat tissues showed high cytoplasmic immunostaining of ODC in epithelial cells of kidney, prostate, and adrenal medulla of testosterone-treated rats, in glandular epithelium of small intestine, and in pancreas of neonatal and adult rats. (J Histochem Cytochem 47:1395-1404, 1999)     

Comparison of different double immunostaining protocols for paraffin embedded liver tissue.

Most of the double immunostaining protocols that have been introduced so far have been developed for application on fresh frozen material or based on different species antibodies. In liver tissue, general problems of double immunostaining techniques are further complicated by tissue-specific difficulties, such as necrosis or high intracellular protein content. To assess a reliable double immunostaining protocol for archived, paraffin embedded liver tissue, different protocols based on the use of same species primary antibodies were evaluated in terms of sensitivity, specificity and non-specific background staining in pathological liver specimens. We compared peroxidase-anti-peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase-anti-alkaline phosphatase (PAP/APAP), labelled-avidin-biotin (LAB/LAB) and digoxigenin-anti-digoxigenin (dig-a-dig/PAP) techniques using different cytokeratin antibodies and an antibody against PCNA. Comparison of the double immunostaining techniques revealed a high sensitivity and specificity in all procedures. Sections, which were stained employing PAP/APAP-technique, displayed a higher background staining compared to sections which were treated with the LAB/LAB or dig-a-dig/PAP protocol. In contrast to the dig-a-dig/PAP protocol, the LAB/LAB technique provides a better time/cost relationship. Therefore, we would like to recommend a modified LAB/LAB protocol for simultaneous detection of different antigens in archived liver tissue.     

Colocalization of numerous immunoreactivities in endocrine cells of the chicken proventriculus at hatching

The colocalization of regulatory peptide immunoreactivities in endocrine cells of the chicken proventriculus at hatching has been investigated using the avidin–biotin technique in serial sections and double immunofluorescence in the same section for light microscopy, and double immunogold staining for electron microscopy. In addition to the eight immunoreactivities previously described in this organ, cells immunoreactive for peptide histidine isoleucine (PHI), peptide gene product 9.5 (PGP), and the amidating enzyme, peptidylglycine -amidating monooxygenase (PAM) were observed. All the cells immunoreactive to glucagon were also immunostained by the PHI antiserum. In addition, all the glucagon-like peptide 1, avian pancreatic polypeptide, and some of the neurotensin-like cells costored also glucagon- and PHI-immunoreactive substances. PGP- and PAM-immunoreactivities were also found in the glucagon-positive cells. A small proportion of the somatostatin-containing cells were positive for PHI but not for other regulatory peptides. These results could suggest either the existence of a very complex regulatory system or that the endocrine system of the newborn chickens is not yet fully developed.     

Intramural ganglia of the human gallbladder: morphological and functional observations]

The purpose of this study was the reinvestigation of the intrinsic innervation of human gall bladder with an immunohistochemical technique named peroxidase anti-peroxidase (PAP). The antigen demonstrated was the S100 protein normally present in the surface of glial cells, Schwann cells and satellite cells in ganglia. The tissues used were taken from 20 human gall bladders, fixed after surgery. This technique is not specific to demonstrate adrenergic or cholinergic innervation but it reveals just myelinated fibers. The current study was undertaken in order to study the organization and the function of plexus of nerves and ganglia present in the wall of the gall bladder. The neck of the gall bladder was the region in which the higher number of nerve cells and nervous fibers was present. The technique used has demonstrated ganglionated plexus and nerves in submucosal layer, fibromuscular and adventitial layer according to the enteric nervous system. All ganglia are postganglionic stations related with preganglionic cholinergic fibers. These results confirm that the intramural ganglia of the gall bladder are analogous to those of the enteric nervous system according to their common origin.     

On the immunocytochemical localization of the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide.

The distribution of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) immunoreactive nerves and endocrine cells in the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas of a number of mammalian and submammalian species has been examined in order to throw light on the exact localization of this peptide. Seven out of 8 VIP antisera demonstrated numerous nerve fibers in the gut, whereas one antiserum (TR2) revealed only scattered, few nerve fibers. The distribution of endocrine cells demonstrated by the different VIP antisera varied considerably. Thus, some antisera demonstrated only endocrine cells in the feline antrum, others only colonic endocrine cells and still others only endocrine cells of the upper gut and pancreas. The variability in staining pattern of endocrine cells as well as recent radioimmunological data makes it opportune to suggest that true VIP is a neuronal peptide and that endocrine cells store peptides resembling, but not being identical with, VIP (VIPoids).     

几种肥大细胞染色方法的比较

运用ABC—爱先蓝—PAS混合染色及PAP技术对大鼠肝、胃、肠及DAB诱发的大鼠肝癌中肥大细胞进行了染色对比实验,结果表明:Carnoy及福尔马林等固定液固定的组织内肥大细胞均能被爱先蓝染色成蓝色,其染色时间不同,该种染色方法可作为一种常规的染色方法,用于确定肥大细胞在组织中的分布及数量。ABC—爱先蓝—PAS混合染色方法及PAP技术均能准确、有效地确定肥大细胞(MC)性质。ABC—爱先蓝—PAS混合染色使结缔组织肥大细胞(CTMC)呈棕褐色,周边略蓝色。粘膜肥大细胞(MMC)则呈蓝色,通过不同颜色的显示,可清楚地将CTMC与MMC区分开来。PAP方法具更高的特异性。但有关的抗体来源缺乏,因此在无特异Ⅰ抗体的情况下,ABC—爱先蓝—PAS混合染色方法亦可视为鉴别两类不同性质MC的一种较为理想的方法。     

Improved immunocytochemical staining through the use of Fab fragments of primary antibody, Fab-specific second antibody, and Fab-horseradish peroxidase

A modification of the unlabeled antibody method of immunocytochemistry is described here that offers increased immunoreagent penetration and greatly reduced background staining. The method involves the following alterations to the conventional technique; the use of Fab fragments of primary antibody, rather than whole immunoglobulin G (IgG) or serum; the use of a second, or link, anti-rabbit IgG serum that is Fab fragment-specific, rather than directed against the whole rabbit IgG molecule; the use of the Fab--horseradish peroxidase complex described by JR Slemmon, PM Salvaterra, and K Saito (J Histochem Cytochem 28:10, 1980), rather than peroxidase--antiperoxidase (PAP). Steps 2 and 3 alone brought about a significant reduction in background staining, but did not increase the depth of immunostaining, as compared to the PAP technique. When all three steps were combined, however, background staining was further reduced, and there was a five- to tenfold increase in the depth of immunostaining. These readily made changes should be useful in preembedding immunocytochemistry whenever enhanced reagent penetration is required.