Contributed by Jane Naberhuis, Ph.D.
With the advancement of immunotherapeutics, the urge to understand the tumor microenvironment has never been more pressing. Immunohistochemistry is a powerful tool used to examine protein expression, distribution, and activation in situ. Antibodies specific to an antigen of interest are used to detect the antigen in thin sections of flash frozen or formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue. Visualization of the antigen is achieved using either an enzymatic reaction that induces chromogen precipitation at the site of antibody-antigen binding, or fluorescent reporters. Fluorescent reporters may be directly conjugated to the primary antibody used to detect the antigen of interest (direct immunofluorescence), or may be attached to a secondary antibody that detects the species-specific primary antibody (indirect immunofluorescence). The latter is more common, as it achieves more sensitive antigen detection.
Historically, this technique has been performed individually for each marker of interest. However, molecular histopathology has recently been shifting from single-marker immunohistochemistry towards multiplexed marker detection. Multiplex immunohistochemistry, also called multiple immunolabeling, or multiplex immunostaining, can maximize the amount of data acquired from an individual sample. This is critical in instances where sample is limited, such as a tumor biopsy or other clinical specimen. Unlike next generation sequencing and mass spectrometry, multiplex immunohistochemistry also allows for examination of spatial arrangement of proteins of interest as well as protein interaction/co-localization.
Chromogenic detection is compatible with multiplex immunohistochemistry to a degree, but there are multiple benefits to indirect labeling using tyramide-based fluorescent detection. This tyramide-based method involves deposition of fluorophore-conjugated tyramide at the site of the antigen of interest, effectively amplifying the signal. Tyramide signal amplification (TSA) enables detection of particularly low abundance targets, as well as enhances the fluorescence signal. Importantly, TSA also allows the use of unlabeled primary antibodies, with the flexibility of using multiple antibodies raised in the same species.
Another significant benefit of tyramide-based fluorescent detection lies in the permanent nature of the tyramide-antigen bond, accomplished through its covalent bonding with tyrosine residues on or in proximity to the antigen of interest. The permanence of this binding allows for heat-mediated removal of antibodies, but preservation of the fluorescence signal associated with the antigen of interest. In this manner, sequential applications of targeted antibodies can be utilized without concern for the cross-reactivity that would otherwise be expected when using multiple antibodies from the same host species. Use of fluorophores with distinct non-overlapping excitation and emission wavelengths facilitates visualization of each unique target protein. Multispectral imaging allows isolation of flurophores with partially overlapping spectra and subtraction of tissue autofluorescense.
Recent advances in multiplex immunohistochemistry and multispectral imaging facilitate accurate simultaneous analysis of multiple tissue markers. For example, detection of markers of both proliferation and autophagy within intestinal tissue can aid accurate assessment of epithelial turnover. Clinically, understanding of the tumor microenvironment, and subsequent selection of appropriately-targeted therapies, can be augmented by profiling and localizing immune checkpoint proteins. The applications of multiplex immunohistochemistry are numerous, and span clinical, translational, and basic research applications.
Detection of human CD3 (teal), CD8 (green), CD68 (orange), CK (red), Ki67 (yellow) and PD-L1 (white) in FFPE HNSCC by IHC-IF. Rabbit anti-CD3e recombinant monoclonal [BL-298-5D12], rabbit anti-CD8a recombinant monoclonal [BLR044F], mouse anti-CD68 monoclonal [KP-1], mouse anti-cytokeratin monoclonal [AE1/AE3], rabbit anti-Ki67 monoclonal [BLR021E] and rabbit anti-PD-L1 recombinant monoclonal [BLR020E]. Secondary: HRP-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG and HRP-conjugated goat anti-mouse IgG. Substrate: Opal™ 480, 520, 570, 620, 690 and 780. Counterstain: DAPI (blue).
Detection of human CD3 (yellow), CD8 (red), and CD20 (green) in FFPE tonsil by IHC-IF. Rabbit anti-CD3e recombinant monoclonal [BL-298-5D12], rabbit anti-CD8a recombinant monoclonal [BLR044F], mouse anti-CD20 monoclonal [L26]. Secondary: HRP-conjugated goat antirabbit IgG and HRP-conjugated goat anti-mouse IgG. Substrate: Opal™ 520, 620, and 690. Counterstain: DAPI (blue).
Detection of human CD3 (yellow), CD20 (green), and CD68 (red) in FFPE lung carcinoma by IHC-IF. Rabbit anti-CD3e recombinant monoclonal [BL-298-5D12], mouse anti-CD20 monoclonal [L26], and mouse anti-CD68 monoclonal [KP-1]. Secondary: HRP-conjugated goat antirabbit IgG and HRP-conjugated goat anti-mouse IgG. Substrate: Opal™ 520, 620, and 690. Counterstain: DAPI (blue).
Reagents Required
Benefits of Fluorescent Multiplex Immunohistochemistry Using TSA
Fluorescent multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) with tyramide signal amplification (TSA) has several advantages over one-color or traditional mIHC. The benefits listed below support mIHC using TSA as a powerful technique for visualizing multiple targets of interest:
- Visualization of multiple targets within a single tissue section
This is important for instances where sample is limited, such as tumor biopsies or other clinical samples. mIHC allows for collection of the maximal amount of data from a single sample. - Examination of spatial arrangement of targets
Visualization of multiple targets within a single tissue section also allows for examination of spatial arrangement of targets and better understanding of protein interaction or co-localization within preserved tissue architecture. This examination of spatial arrangement within a single tissue section is not possible with other techniques such as polymerase chain reaction, mass spectrometry, or next-generation sequencing. - Wider dynamic and linear ranges
As compared to chromogenic detection, fluorophore detection offers wider dynamic and linear ranges, making it easier to visualize both high and low abundance targets on the same slide. Use of TSA also allows for signal amplification of low abundance targets through enhancement of the antigen-associated fluorescence signal. - Simplified panel design
The permanent nature of the covalent tyramide-tyrosine bond facilitates heat-mediated removal of primary/secondary antibody pairs without disruption of the fluorescence signal. This means that any primary antibody validated for IHC, regardless of host species, can be utilized for each target of interest so long as a primary-specific secondary antibody is used. - Use of DAPI (4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) as a counterstain
The DNA/nuclear counterstain DAPI is preferable to hematoxylin, since hematoxylin can be obscured by other targets when used in chromogenic staining. - Spectral un-mixing
Spectral un-mixing ensures that signals from each individual target of interest are differentiated from those of other targets. It also allows for subtraction of the signal arising from tissue autofluorescence. - Streamlined quantitation
Objective determination of the level of expression of multiple targets of interest can be streamlined by use of an appropriate imaging platform and software. As tissue architecture is preserved in mIHC, visualization of tissue “landmarks” may also assist in accurate quantitation.
Together, these features of fluorescent mIHC using TSA represent a robust approach to tissue analysis. Such analysis has a multitude of applications, such as characterizing molecular signaling or protein-protein interactions, understanding the complex tumor microenvironment, or enabling the development of individually-tailored therapeutic interventions.
