Double-enzyme conjugates, producing an intermediate color, for simultaneous and direct detection of three different intracellular immunoglobulin determinants with only two enzymes.
A new double-enzyme conjugate was synthesized by coupling alkaline phosphatase (AP) to horseradish peroxidase (HRP). After AP (blue) and subsequent HRP (red) cytochemistry, this new conjugate produced a stable intermediate-colored (violet) product. By coupling this double-enzyme conjugate to an antigen (trinitrophenyl, TNP) or an antibody (anti-mouse immunoglobulin G2a), anti-TNP or -IgG2a-producing cells could be demonstrated as violet cells in spleen sections. This led to the development of a rapid one-step incubation--two-step cytochemical procedure for simultaneous detection of three different determinants in a single tissue section. To demonstrate this novel triple staining method, we coupled three different antigens to, respectively, AP, HRP, and AP-HRP. When spleen sections of immunized animals were incubated with a mixture of these three antigen-enzyme conjugates, we could distinguish antibody-forming cells against each of these three antigens simultaneously as red (HRP), blue (AP), and violet (AP-HRP) cells. The simultaneous detection of three different classes of intracellular antibodies in a single section also proved to be possible with this method. With this study we provide a new direct method for detection of three different intracellular immunoglobulins after a one-step incubation and a two-step standard cytochemical procedure.
Claassen
E
E
Boorsma
D M
DM
Kors
N
N
Van Rooijen
N
N
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000818:Animals; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D003116:Color; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry / Q000379:methods; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis*; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D000939:Epitopes; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase