Improved immunostaining of nanostructures and cells in human brain specimens through expansion-mediated protein decrowding

Pablo A. Valdes, Chih Chieh Yu, Jenna Aronson, Debarati Ghosh, Yongxin Zhao, Bobae An, Joshua D. Bernstock, Deepak Bhere, Michelle M. Felicella, Mariano S. Viapiano, Khalid Shah, E. Antonio Chiocca, Edward S. Boyden

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Proteins are densely packed in cells and tissues, where they form complex nanostructures. Expansion microscopy (ExM) variants have been used to separate proteins from each other in preserved biospecimens, improving antibody access to epitopes. Here, we present an ExM variant, decrowding expansion pathology (dExPath), that can expand proteins away from each other in human brain pathology specimens, including formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) clinical specimens. Immunostaining of dExPath-expanded specimens reveals, with nanoscale precision, previously unobserved cellular structures, as well as more continuous patterns of staining. This enhanced molecular staining results in observation of previously invisible disease marker–positive cell populations in human glioma specimens, with potential implications for tumor aggressiveness. dExPath results in improved fluorescence signals even as it eliminates lipofuscin-associated autofluorescence. Thus, this form of expansion-mediated protein decrowding may, through improved epitope access for antibodies, render immunohistochemistry more powerful in clinical science and, perhaps, diagnosis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbereabo0049
JournalScience Translational Medicine
Volume16
Issue number732
DOIs
StatePublished - 2024
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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