This work is supported by NIH R00 HD032636.

1. Staining with the First Antibody
<ol>
	<li>Dewax and rehydrate FFPE slides with 5 min allotted to each of the following steps: xylene or equivalent reagents 3x, 100% ethanol 2x, 95% ethanol 1x, 70% ethanol 1x, 50% ethanol 1x, and distilled water 2x. 
	NOTE: Slides should remain moist starting from this rehydration step until mounting in the final step.</li>
	<li>For optional antigen retrieval, place the slides in 275 mL of boiling sodium citrate solution (10 mM, pH = 6.0) for 8 min. To keep the solution boiling...

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M., Larsson, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Microwaving+for+double+indirect+immunofluorescence+with+primary+antibodies+from+the+same+species+and+for+staining+of+mouse+tissues+with+mouse+monoclonal+antibodies.">Microwaving for double indirect immunofluorescence with primary antibodies from the same species and for staining of mouse tissues with mouse monoclonal antibodies.</a> Histochemistry and Cell Biology. 113 (1), 19-23 (2000).</li><li>Kim, M., Soontornniyomkij, V., Ji, B., Zhou, X. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=System-wide+immunohistochemical+analysis+of+protein+co-localization.">System-wide immunohistochemical analysis of protein co-localization.</a> PLoS One. 7 (2), e32043 (2012).</li><li>Bolognesi, M. 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E., Mezey, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Simultaneous+visualization+of+multiple+antigens+with+tyramide+signal+amplification+using+antibodies+from+the+same+species.">Simultaneous visualization of multiple antigens with tyramide signal amplification using antibodies from the same species.</a> Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry. 55 (6), 545-554 (2007).</li><li>Buchwalow, I., Samoilova, V., Boecker, W., Tiemann, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Multiple+immunolabeling+with+antibodies+from+the+same+host+species+in+combination+with+tyramide+signal+amplification.">Multiple immunolabeling with antibodies from the same host species in combination with tyramide signal amplification.</a> Acta Histochemica. 120 (5), 405-411 (2018).</li><li>Bauer, M., Schilling, N., Spanel-Borowski, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Limitation+of+microwave+treatment+for+double+immunolabelling+with+antibodies+of+the+same+species+and+isotype.">Limitation of microwave treatment for double immunolabelling with antibodies of the same species and isotype.</a> Histochemistry and Cell Biology. 116 (3), 227-232 (2001).</li><li>Pirici, D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Antibody+elution+method+for+multiple+immunohistochemistry+on+primary+antibodies+raised+in+the+same+species+and+of+the+same+subtype.">Antibody elution method for multiple immunohistochemistry on primary antibodies raised in the same species and of the same subtype.</a> Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry. 57 (6), 567-575 (2009).</li><li>Glass, G., Papin, J. 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The authors have nothing to disclose.

Multiplex immunostaining is useful to examine the cellular colocalization of two or more antigens. This widely used technique gives convincing colocalization results when primary antibodies are conjugated with different reporters (direct staining). However, direct staining usually provides weaker signals compared to indirect staining, which involves conjugated secondary antibodies to detect the primary antibodies. In indirect staining, a high-quality multiplex immunostaining result relies on whether the secondary antibod...

In multiplex immunostaining, direct staining using conjugated primary antibodies can provide informative results. Without using secondary antibodies, the direct staining method has a low risk of false colocalization signals from antibody cross-reactivity. However, the conjugated reporters (fluorophore, enzymes) or biotin on the primary antibody limit its future use. Alternatively, indirect immunostaining usually provides stronger signals by using an unconjugated primary antibody with a labeled secondary antibody. Ideally, unconjugated primary antibodies used in multiplex immunostaining should come from different host species to avoid antibody cross-reactivity. However, the appropriate combination of primary antibodies from different host species is not always available.
Several methods have been established to eliminate the risk of the secondary antibody reacting with an undesired primary antibody. One common method is the use of a F(ab) monomeric antibody to block any remaining binding epitopes on the first primary antibody complex before staining with the second primary antibody1. Antibody stripping, which is similar to the strip and reprobe of a Western blot sheet, removes the previously stained antibody complex without stripping the deposition of detectable reporter molecules such as 3,3&#39;-diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride (DAB)2 and the fluorescent tyramide deposition3. With this method, reporter molecules in different colors can show a multiplex result on the same slide. The multiplex staining is also achievable by the complete removal of the previously deposited layers of antibodies and the alignment of subsequently acquired images from other antibodies4,5. These methods all give reliable results, though each method has its limitations and requires either complicated procedures or a special imaging system.
The present protocol shows the application of an antibody stripping method with the use of commonly available buffers. This protocol can be used to perform multiplex immunofluorescent staining on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) mouse adrenal sections with two unlabeled primary antibodies from the same host species.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Antifade Mounting Medium</td>
			<td>Vector Laboratories</td>
			<td>H-1000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Biotinylated donkey anti-mouse</td>
			<td>JacksonImmuno</td>
			<td>715-066-151</td>
			<td>1:500 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Biotinylated donkey anti-rabbit</td>
			<td>JacksonImmuno</td>
			<td>711-066-152</td>
			<td>1:500 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DAPI</td>
			<td>BioLegend</td>
			<td>422801</td>
			<td>2 &#956;g/mL in distilled water</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fluorescence microscope</td>
			<td>ECHO</td>
			<td>Revolve 4</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Horseradish peroxidase-conjugated streptavidin</td>
			<td>JacksonImmuno</td>
			<td>016-030-084</td>
			<td>1:1000 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microwave oven, 700W</td>
			<td>General Electric</td>
			<td>JEM3072DH1BB</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mouse anti-CYP2F2</td>
			<td>Santa Cruz,</td>
			<td>SC-374540</td>
			<td>1:250 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mouse anti-TH</td>
			<td>Santa Cruz,</td>
			<td>SC-25269</td>
			<td>1:1000 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Normal donkey serum</td>
			<td>JacksonImmuno</td>
			<td>017-000-121</td>
			<td>2% serum in PBST</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rabbit anti-20&#945;HSD</td>
			<td>Kerafast,</td>
			<td>EB4002</td>
			<td>1:500 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rabbit anti-3&#946;HSD</td>
			<td>TransGenic,</td>
			<td>KO607</td>
			<td>1:250 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rabbit anti-TH</td>
			<td>NOVUS,</td>
			<td>NB300-109</td>
			<td>1:1000 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rabbit anti-&#946;-catenin</td>
			<td>Abcam,</td>
			<td>ab32572</td>
			<td>1:500 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Streptavidin Horseradish Peroxidase (SA-HRP)</td>
			<td>JacksonImmuno</td>
			<td>016-303-084</td>
			<td>1:1000 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TSA Cy3 Tyramide</td>
			<td>PerkinElmer</td>
			<td>SAT704B001EA</td>
			<td>1:100 dilution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TSA Fluorescein Tyramide</td>
			<td>PerkinElmer</td>
			<td>SAT701001EA</td>
			<td>1:100 dilution</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

microwaving and fluorophore-tyramide for multiplex immunostaining on mouse adrenals &#8722; using unconjugated primary antibodies from the same host species

Immunostaining is widely used in biomedical research to show the cellular expression pattern of a given protein. Multiplex immunostaining allows labeling using multiple primary antibodies. To minimize antibody cross-reactivity, multiplex immunostaining using indirect staining requires unlabeled primary antibodies from different host species. However, the appropriate combination of different species antibodies is not always available. Here, we describe a method of using unlabeled primary antibodies from the same host species (e.g., in this case both antibodies are from rabbit) for multiplex immunofluorescence on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) mouse adrenal sections. This method uses the same procedure and reagents used in the antigen retrieval step to strip the activity of the previously stained primary antibody complex. Slides were stained with the first primary antibody using a general immunostaining protocol followed by a binding step with a biotinylated secondary antibody. Then, an avidin-biotin-peroxidase signal development method was used with fluorophore-tyramide as the substrate. The immunoactivity of the first primary antibody complex was stripped through immersion in a microwaved boiling sodium citrate solution for 8 min. The insoluble fluorophore-tyramide deposition remained on the sample, which allowed the slide to be stained with other primary antibodies. Although this method eliminates most false positive signals, some background from antibody cross-reactivity may remain. If the samples are enriched with endogenous biotin, a peroxidase-conjugated secondary antibody may be used to replace the biotinylated secondary antibody to avoid the false positive from recovered endogenous biotin.

The results were obtained from samples treated with all steps described including the antigen retrieval step 1.2. All secondary antibodies used here were biotinylated. Fluorophore-tyramide was used to develop signals from the first and second primary antibodies. Images were captured using a fluorescence microscope equipped with a FITC cube (for green fluorescence), a TxRED cube (for Cy3), and a DAPI cube (for DAPI).
Micr...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Microwaving and Fluorophore-Tyramide for Multiplex Immunostaining on Mouse Adrenals âˆ' Using Unconjugated Primary Antibodies from the Same Host Species at 

Microwaving and Fluorophore-Tyramide for Multiplex Immunostaining on Mouse Adrenals &amp;#8722; Using Unconjugated Primary Antibodies from the Same Host Species

Several different methods have been established for multiplex immunostaining using primary antibodies from the same host species. Here, we describe the use of microwave-mediated antibody stripping and of fluorophore-tyramide to block antibody cross-reactivity during multiplex immunostaining on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded mouse adrenal sections.

Microwaving and Fluorophore-Tyramide for Multiplex Immunostaining on Mouse Adrenals &#8722; Using Unconjugated Primary Antibodies from the Same Host Species

Immunostaining is widely used in biomedical research to show the cellular expression pattern of a given protein. Multiplex immunostaining allows labeling ...

Immunostaining is widely used in biomedical research to identify the location of a protein of interest. Multiplex immunostaining can detect multiple targets on the same sample using different primary antibodies. The benefit of this method is the use of commonly available buffers to eliminate antibody cross-reactivity allowing immunostaining using two or more unlabeled primary antibodies from the same host species.Demonstrating the procedure will be Sophia Zheng, a graduate student, and Qiongxia Lyu, a visiting scholar of my lab. Before staining, de-wax and rehydrate formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded slides with five-minute immersions in each solution as indicated. After the second distilled water immersion, place the slides in 275 milliliters of boiling sodium citrate solution on the bottom of a pipette tip box with a lid and place the box into a 700 watt microwave at 75%power for eight minutes.At the end of the treatment, open the lid and allow the solution to cool to room temperature before washing the slides with three five-minute washes of fresh PBST in a Coplin jar. To block any nonspecific binding sites, after the last wash shake the excess PBST from each slide and cover the slides with a sufficient volume of an appropriate blocking solution. After 30 minutes at room temperature in a humidified chamber, shake the excess blocking solution from each slide and add 250 microliters of the first primary antibody of interest to each sample.To prevent samples from drying out, the slides may be covered by a piece of paraffin film. After an overnight incubation at four degrees Celsius in a humidified chamber, wash the slides three times with fresh PBST for five minutes per wash. Shake off the excess PBST then quickly cover each slide with 250 microliters of an appropriate secondary antibody solution for a one-hour incubation in a humidified chamber at room temperature.At the end of the incubation, wash the slides three times in fresh PBST as demonstrated and add 250 microliters of freshly prepared streptavidin horseradish peroxidase to each slide. After 30 minutes at room temperature, wash the slides three times in fresh PBST. Then shake off the excess PBST and cover each slide with 250 microliters of freshly prepared fluorophore-tyramide solution.One minute later, submerge the slides in fresh PBST followed by three two-minute washes in fresh PBST. After the last wash, apply a few drops of a one-to-one glycerol-to-PBS solution to the sections and check for the presence of a fluorescence signal by fluorescence microscopy. To strip the first antibody complex, place the antibody labeled slides in 275 milliliters of boiling sodium citrate solution for at least eight minutes as demonstrated.At the end of the treatment, open the lid and let the solution cool to room temperature before washing the slides three times with PBST for five minutes per wash. To stain for the second target protein of interest, after blocking for nonspecific binding as demonstrated, label each sample with 250 microliters of the second primary antibody of interest at four degrees Celsius overnight. The next morning, wash the slides three times for five minutes in fresh PBST per wash before covering each slide with 250 microliters of an appropriate secondary antibody solution for a one-hour incubation at room temperature.At the end of the incubation, wash the slides three times in fresh PBST as demonstrated and add 250 microliters of freshly prepared streptavidin horseradish peroxidase to each slide. To develop the signal for the second target protein of interest, after three PBST washes, treat the slides with the fluorophore conjugated tyramide in a different fluorescence spectrum. To stop the tyramide signal development, submerge the slides into PBST.Then stain the samples with an appropriate nuclear dye. For imaging by fluorescence microscopy, mount each nuclear dye labeled slide with a drop of an appropriate mounting medium in a coverslip. Use the 4X objective to locate the tissue on the slide.Switch to the 10X objective for imaging and adjust the exposure time to 100 to 400 milliseconds with the light source between 40 to 80%intensity. Then obtain images in each channel without moving the stage. The images from each channel can be merged to form a multiplex fluorescent image.Without stripping between the first and secondary antibody staining, the second staining for tyrosine hydroxylase will pick up signals from the first target protein of interest resulting in a false positive tyrosine hydroxylase staining, for example in this sample within the adrenal cortex. To remove the antibody cross-reactivity in the horseradish peroxidase from the first immunostaining, one-minute and eight-minute microwave-mediated stripping can be performed resulting in clean double staining results. No significant signal is picked up in negative control samples.Eight-minute stripping in boiling citrate buffer is also sufficient to eliminate antibody cross-reactivity for many antibodies commonly used in the adrenal gland. In some cases, a weak false positive signal is still detectable, however, and an increase of 20 minutes to the microwave treatment still may not completely remove the antibody cross-reactivity. During fluorescence imaging, it is important not to move the stage when switching channels.However, it may be necessary to readjust the focus to obtain clear images of each channel. For each channel, be sure to adjust the exposure time to ensure that the signals are appropriately exposed with no overexposed pixels or areas in the images. During the staining procedure, it is important to keep the slides hydrated from the de-waxing and The slides can be stripped using the same stripping methods several times to allow multiplex staining.

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6.8K Views.  Henan University of Science and Technology. Immunostaining is widely used in biomedical research to identify the location of a protein of interest. Multiplex immunostaining can detect multiple targets on the same sample using different primary antibodies. The benefit of this method is the use of commonly available buffers to eliminate antibody cross-reactivity allowing immunostaining using two or more unlabeled primary antibodies from the same host species.Demonstrating the procedure will be Sophia Zheng, a graduate student, and...

Video: Microwaving and Fluorophore-Tyramide for Multiplex Immunostaining on Mouse Adrenals &#8722; Using Unconjugated Primary Antibodies from the Same Host Species