title: A novel frozen brain tissue array technique: immunohistochemical detection of neuronal paraneoplastic autoantibodies.
abstract: We introduce a modification of the tissue microarray technique in which several frozen brain tissue specimens are collected to a single frozen brain array block. In the present application, we use it for the detection of neuronal paraneoplastic anti-Hu autoantibodies. Representative samples from 15 different brain regions were collected according to a standard neuropathological autopsy protocol. Cryostat sections from each block were cut and conventionally stained. From representative areas, cylinder tissue samples from each specimen were punched and then arrayed into a recipient array block. Using the cryostat sections of this brain array, autoantibodies from seven anti-Hu-positive patient sera (confirmed by immunoblotting) were screened by immunohistochemistry. Neuronal architecture was well preserved and immunohistochemical staining was comparable to that of conventional cryostat sections. Because of the variable staining pattern in different brain areas, two anti-Hu-positive sera could be detected immunohistochemically by the one brain array. With the present array technique, it is possible to characterize the variable staining patterns of neuronal paraneoplastic autoantibodies in different locations of the human brain. The frozen brain array also allows the detection of RNA and DNA targets involved in neurological diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland. maarit.kylaniemi@uta.fi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kyläniemi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koskinen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Karhunen
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rantala
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peltola
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haapasalo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology*; D051959:ELAV Proteins; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D009474:Neurons / Q000276:immunology; D020361:Paraneoplastic Syndromes, Nervous System / Q000276:immunology*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D051959:ELAV Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins