Antigen Retrieval Methods A Summary

The following recent comparative studies demonstrate that no single antigen retrieval method is optimal for all types of antigens. 

Immunostaining of Aa and A (3 isoforms of calcineurin in the human brain employing CAN-2 and CAN-3, respectively, was compared between microwave heating (in 10 mM sodium citrate at pH 6.0 for 10 min) and autoclaving at 120°C for 20 min (Usuda et al., 1996). The former approach was the most effective for intensification of the immunoreaction. 

Compared to enzyme digestion methods, microwave heating demonstrated more intense immunoreactivity of estrogen and progesterone in breast cancer tissues fixed with methacam (60% methanol, 30% chloroform, and 10% acetic acid) (Oyaizu et al., 1996). 

Compared with trypsin digestion, microwave heating produced more consistent results and was effective over a greater range of fixation tissues in the case of immunoglobulin light chain in tonsil tissue (Ashton-Key et al., 1996). 

Compared with pepsin predigestion, microwave heating markedly enhanced the staining of aberrant p53 antigen with Pab 1801-D07 antibody cocktail in paraffin or frozen sections in adenocarcinoma of the lung (Resnick et al., 1995). 

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