Immunoglobulin light chain staining in paraffin‐embedded tissue using a heat mediated epitope retrieval method

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
We have compared light chain immunohistochemistry in reactive lymphoid tissue and a series of paraffin‐embedded B‐cell lymphomas using standard trypsin digestion with a heat mediated epitope retrieval method. Fifty‐seven B‐cell lymphomas (18 high grade, 29 low grade and 10 cases of nodular lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's disease), two reactive lymph nodes and eight tonsils fixed for known times between 12 h and 2 years were studied. Paraffin‐embedded tissue was stained with polyclonal anti‐kappa and anti‐lambda antibodies. For each antibody staining was performed on two sections, one treated with trypsin digestion and one with microwave heating. Sections were scored from 0 to +++ with 0 representing poor staining and +++ excellent staining. A score of ++ was considered satisfactory. Light chain restriction was recorded if present. Satisfactory staining was obtained in 34/59 cases using trypsin digestion and 56/59 cases using heat retrieval. Light chain restriction was demonstrated in 32/57 (56%) B‐cell lymphomas using trypsin digestion and 52/57 (91%) using heat retrieval. Satisfactory staining was obtained in tonsils fixed for up to 48 h using trypsin digestion and up to 2 years using heat retrieval. We have shown that for light chain immunostaining a heat mediated epitope retrieval method produces more consistent and satisfactory results and is effective over a greater range of fixation times than traditional trypsin digestion.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: