Immunohistochemistry (IHC)

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a powerful technique that utilizes the specific binding between an antibody and antigen to selectively visualize the distribution and localization of antigens or cellular components in cells of a tissue section.

• Sample preparation: Involves tissue processing, fixation, and sectioning to maintain cell morphology, tissue architecture and the antigenicity of target epitopes.
• Antigen retrieval: Improve antigen expression by breaking down formalin-induced antigen cross-linking, re-exposing antigenic sites to allow antibody to bind.
• Blocking proteins: Block endogenous enzymes (peroxidase or alkaline phosphatase) and endogenous antibodies to prevent non-specific antibody binding and reduce background and potentially false positive results.
• Primary antibody incubation: Primary antibody directly binds to the epitope of the antigen of insterest.
• Secondary antibody incubation: Secondary antibodies tagged with specific biotins recognize the primary antibody and enable detection of the target antigen.
• Staining: According to different biotins conjugated with antibodies, staining methods can be classified as immunofluorescence, immunoenzymological staining and affinity histochemistry.

• Able to study localization and presence/absence of a target at the tissue and cellular level.

IHC is widely used in many research and clinical laboratories since it is able to visualize the distribution and localization of biomarkers and differentially expressed proteins in different parts of a biological tissue.

• Biological research: Visualize tissue organization, organ development, and apoptosis.
• Diagnoses of cancer: Allow tumor detection, staging and classification.
• Diagnoses of infectious diseases: Detect and identify pathogenic antigen in tissue samples from infected individuals.
• Evaluation of neurodegenerative disorders: Identify and evaluate abnormal protein conformations and aggregations.
• Drug development: Test drug efficacy by detecting either the activity or the up- or down-regulation of disease markers in the target tissues and elsewhere.
• Human Protein Atlas: Enable the mapping of the human proteome.

Microscop Slides

A microscope slide is a thin flat piece of glass used to hold objects for examination under a microscope. Typically the object is mounted (secured) on the slide, and then both are inserted together in the microscope for viewing. Slides can be pre-coated with gelatin to enhance adhesion of the tissue.

Coverslips

Coverslip is a very thin piece of glass plate used to cover samples mounted on a microscope slide.

Tissue Staining Equipment

Automatic tissue stainer standardizes the staining process for optimize quality and consistency while meeting the high throughput requirements.

Microscope

Fluorescent microscopes and electronic microscopes can be used to view protein distribution over an entire section.

STEMart offers complete equipments and consumables used in Immunohistochemistry (IHC) to facilitate your research. If you want to learn more detail about the related devices, or would like to consult with the experts at STEMart, please feel free to contact us.