Pathology  Page

Welcome to Enco's  Pathology Page.  The aim of this page is to offer a selection of news, articles, and links which are of interest to professionals working with materials and instruments relating to  Pathology.    We hope that  you find this page both interesting and helpful .

About the DakoCytomation Artisan Staining System

About the Dako Autostainer

About Dako's Glass Slide Labeling System

Articles:

We are pleased to post  the following article, written by Dr. Peter Birner M.D. of the University of Vienna, which was published in a recent volume of Modern Pathology.  The article provides an excellent comparison of several methods of HPV identification, including ISH with Signal Amplification using the DAKO GenPoint technology, Hybrid Capture , PCR and conventional IHC methods.          

Signal-Amplified Colorimetric In Situ Hybridization for Assessment of Human Papillomavirus Infection in Cervical Lesions

New Products

• Dako's new Special Stains for selective demonstration of tissue elements.  

• New Antibodies for Pathology from Dako's 2002 catalogue

• New Stains for Pathology from Dako's 2002 catalogue

Dako has introduced these new antibodies for Pathology in the new 2002 catalogue :

Dako's new Special Stains for selective demonstration of tissue elements.

Special stains are staining methods that use dyes or chemical reactions to demonstrate tissue elements such as carbohydrates, proteins, connective tissue, muscle, microorganisms, pigments, minerals, and cytoplasmic granules. Selective demonstration is achieved based on the chemical properties of the target.

Dako's stains can be used both manually, or with the Dako Autostainer.  The new stains are:

• Alcian Blue pH. 1.0. 

  Dako Alcian Blue pH.1.0 stains strongly sulphated mucins at pH.1.0, for visualization of sulphated mucosubstances in tissue.  The copper phthalocyanin basic dye, Alcian Blue, produces a blue color, and Nuclear Fast red is used as a counterstain.

• Alcian Blue pH. 2.5. 

  Dako Alcian Blue pH.2.5 stains strongly sulphated mucins at pH.2.5, for visualization of sulphated mucosubstances in tissue.  The copper phthalocyanin basic dye, Alcian Blue, produces a blue color, and Nuclear Fast red is used as a counterstain.

• Congo Red Amyloid 

  Dako Congo Red is an anionic dye that detects the abnormal protein product, amyloid, deposited in tissues demonstrating various pathologic conditions.  It is based on a modified Bennhold's method  and demonstrates amyloid in shades of pink to red with light microscopy or the characteristic "apple-green birefringence" with polarized light.

   

• Iron 

  Dako Iron is based on the Prussian Blue reaction for visualization of ferric iron in tissue sections.  Containing potassium  ferro cyanide, and hydrochloric acid, when exposed to loosely bound ferric iron in tissue, the iron stain forms a blue color.

• Mucicarmine 

  Dako Mucicarmine is based on the technique of Mayer for visualization of neutral epithelial mucins in tissues.  The carmine reagent, containing a aluminum mordant, stains the mucin a deep rose to red color.  Modified Mayer's Haematoxylin is used to stain the nuclei.

    

• Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) Haematoxylin  

  Dako PAS with Haematoxylin  is suitable for visualization of mucopolysaccharides and fungi in tissue.  Oxidization of tissue sections with periodic acid causes the formation of new aldehyde groups.  These new aldehyde groups react with the Schiff reagent to form a colorless unstable compound.  This compound becomes a stable pink-to-red colored end product, by restoring the quinoid chromphor grouping with a thorough rinse in water.  Modified Mayer's Haematoxylin is used as a counter stain in this reaction.

New Stains for Pathology from Dako's 2002 catalogue

S 3026	Permanent Mounting Medium for Special Stains	100 mL	S302630
SL 001	Special Stains Wash Buffer, Concentrated x 10	1 L	SL00189
SL 002	Clear-It Cleaning Reagent for Special Stains	3.8 L	SL00289
SL 008	Diastase Enzyme, packaged for use with the DAKO Autostainer	50-100Tests	SL00889
SL 010	Alcian Blue, pH 1.0, Stain System, packaged for use with the DAKO Autostainer	50 Tests	SL01089
SL 011	Alcian Blue, pH 2.5, packaged for use with the DAKO Autostainer	50 Tests	SL01189
SL 012	Iron Stain System, packaged for use with the DAKO Autostainer	50 Tests	SL01289
SL 013	Congo Red Amyloid Stain System, packaged for use with the DAKO Autostainer	50 Tests	SL01389
SL 014	Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS)/Hematoxylin Stain System, packaged for use with the DAKO Autostainer	50 Tests	SL01489

SL 015	Giemasa Stain System, packaged for use with Dako Autostainer	50 Tests	SL01589
SL 016	Mucicarmine Stain System packaged for use with the DAKO Autostainer	50 Tests	SL01689
SL 018	Masson’s Trichrome Stain System packaged for use with the DAKO Autostainer	50 Tests	SL01889
SL 019	Gomori’s One-Step Green Trichrome Stain System packaged for use with the DAKO Autostainer	50 Tests	SL01989
SL 020	Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS)/Light Green Stain System packaged for use with the DAKO Autostainer	50 Tests	SL02089
SL 021	Elastic Stain System packaged for use with the DAKO Autostainer	50 Tests	SL02189
SL 022	Acid-Fast Bacteria (AFB) Stain System packaged for use with the DAKO Autostainer	50 Tests	SL02289
SL 024	Gomori’s One-Step Blue Trichrome Stain System packaged for use with the DAKO Autostainer	50 Tests	SL02489
SL 026	Gram Stain System packaged for use with the DAKO Autostainer	50 Tests	SL02689
SL 028	Modified GMS Stain System packaged for use with the DAKO Autostainer	50 Tests	SL02889
SL 029	Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) Stain System packaged for use with the DAKO Autostainer	50 Tests	SL02989
SL 030	Alcian Blue/PAS Stain System packaged for use with the DAKO Autostainer	50 Tests	SL03089

Monoclonal Mouse

Anti-Human p63 Protein

Clone 4A4

Code No. M7247

For research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

Recommended use Monoclonal Mouse Anti-Human p63 Protein, Clone 4A4, is recommended for use in immunocytochemistry. The antibody labels the p63 protein in the nuclei of basal or progenitor cells in a variety of epithelia (1).

Synomym for Antigen KET, p51, p40, and p73L (2).

Introduction The p63 protein is a member of the p53 family, which also includes p73. At least 6 different transcripts of p63 derives from alternative splicing events and encodes proteins with two different N termini (TA and ÄN) and three different C termini (á, â and ã). The protein isotypes TAp63á, TAp63â, and TAp63ã contain the N-terminal transactivation (TA) domain, whereas the other three isotypes ÄNp63á, ÄNp63â, and ÄNp63ã, lack this domain, and when present in sufficient concentration act in a dominant-negative manner with respect to wild-type p63 and p53 protein (1, 2).

The predominant localization of p63 protein is in the basal layer of stratified squamous and transitional epithelia (1). These basal cells act as the progenitors of the suprabasal cells, which undergo differentiation and cell death in regenerative epithelia (3). p63-deficient mice lack all squamous epithelia and their derivatives, including hair, whiskers, teeth, as well as mammary, lacrimal, and salivary glands. Particularly striking are severe limb truncations with forelimbs showing a complete absence of the phalanges and carpals, and variable defects of ulnae and radiae and hindlimbs that are lacking altogether (4).

 Mouse Anti-Human E-Cadherin, Clone NCH-38

Anti-E-Cadherin aids in the assessment of tumor invasiveness potential.  

E-cadherin is involved in cell-cell adhesion through calcium-regulated homophilic interactions. In its intracellular domain, E-cadherin connects to the actin cytoskeleton via catenins.  Down-regulations of E-cadherin expression have been observed in several carcinomas, and are usually associated with advanced stage and progression.           

DAKO monoclonal Mouse Anti-Human E-Cadherin Clone NCH-38 is for use in immunocytochemistry.  The antibody specifically labels human E-cadherin on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue without any background staining.  Together with a panel of other antibodies, anti E-cadherin can aid in the assessment of tumor invasiveness potential.

EGFR

The antibody labels subtypes of human carcinomas which express high levels of EGFR.  The antigen (also known as ErbB-1 or HER1) is a transmembrane glycoprotein involved with the regulation of cell proliferation.  EGFR over-expression is associated with cancer progression.  EGFR is expressed in a wide range of normal epithelial tissues and in epithelieal tissue derived tumors.

Cells labeled by the antibody display staining mainly of the cell membrane.   This antibody can be used on formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded sections recommended dilution range 1:25-1:50.  Proteolytic pre treatment with proteinase K  (Code # S3020 or S3004,) trypsin (Code # S2012), or pronase E (Code # S2013) is required.  This antibody can also  be used on acetone-fixed, frozen sections.

Calretinin

Calretinin is expressed by both normal and neoplastic mesothelial cells and it is a useful marker for the identification of malignant mesotheliomas of the epithelial type and for the differentiation of these malignancies from metastases of lung adenocaricinoma.  Differential identification is aided by the results from a panel of other markers.

This antibody can be used on paraffin-embedded tissue sections fixed in formalin.  We recommend using heat-induced epitope retrieval in Dako Target Retrieval Solution (Code # S1700).  In addition, satisfactory staining is observed after proteolytic epitope retrieval using pronase E (Code # S2013).

Surfactant Apoprotein A (SP-A)

Pulmonary sufactant apoptproeins are located mainly in type II pneumocytes and have been demonstrated in bronchio-alveolar carcinomas and in adeno -carcinomas of the lung.  Except for type II pulmonary macrophages and walls and perivascular fibrous tissue of small to medium sized blood vessels of the lung, no other normal tissues of cells are labeled by the PE-10 antibody.   Because mesotheliomas have not shown positive staining with the antibody, is is considered to be useful to differentiate between pulmonary adenocarcinomas and mesotheliomas.  This antibody is suitable for paraffin sections , frozen sections, and cell smears.

Cathepsin D

Cathepsin D is an aspartic protease found in endosomes and lysosomes in all mammalian tissues except erythrocytes.  It is involved in protein degradation and has been suggested as an activator of precursors of biologically active molecules.  

In cancer, over-expression of cathepsin D is thought to be associated with tumor cell proliferation and spread.  Dako Monoclonal Mouse Anti-Human Cathepsin D (Clone DB2000 Isotype: IgG1k) labels the cathepsin D molecule in normal and neoplastic tissues, and may be a useful tool in the assessment of over-expression of cathepsin D.  In breast cancer, a strong positive association was found between over-expression of cathepsin D and the presence of tumor in axillary lymph nodes, or generally, metastatic disease.  Also in laryngeal carcinoma, colon adenocarcinoma, bladder carcinoma, prostate carcinoma and  glioma, cathepsin D over-expression was positively correlated to pathologic stage.

The antibody can be used for labeling paraffin-embedded tissue sections fixed in formalin. Heat-induced epitope retrieval in Dako Target Retrieval Solution (Code# S`700), or Dako Target Retrieval Solution, High pH, (Code# S3308) is required.   This antibody can also be used for Western Blotting and Elisa applications. Please note that clones DB2000 and D101 are identical.

Dako's  Autostainer

The Dako Autostainer is a fully automated immunostaining system , which is suitable for both clinical and research applications.  It s flexible open system directly imitates manual staining, making it easy to automate manual protocols and maintain complete continuity.

The Autostainer's features include:

• Excellent staining quality, and consistent results

• Flexible open system allows multiple protocols an  detection systems to run simultaneously.

• 48 slide capacity that can be individually pre-programmed, with up to 64 on board reagents in a single run.

• Minimal disposable costs

• Separation of hazardous and non-hazardous waste safely handles toxic materials and reduces cost of disposal

• Easy to use Windows based software for simple training, set-up and operation

• Detailed reports of individual slide chemistry and slide information, including  logs of daily runs and catalogued records of every  step the instrument performs

Dako's Glass Slide Labeling System (Seymour)

Dako's glass slide labeling system (Seymour),   allows you to print only the labels you need, when you need them, for samples, microscope slides , and other items used in histology, cytology, and research laboratories.  Dako's Seymour includes the following features:

• Labels can be customized to include the information you need.

• Chemically resistant labels enable you to label slides before processing and staining.

• Can be used with any Dako automated system or with a stand alone PC.

• Patients can be identified by name.  Patient ID can be linked to the staining protocol.

DakoCytomation Artisan Staining System