Ki-67 Membranous Staining: Biologically Relevant or an Artifact of Multiplexed Immunofluorescent Staining

Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol. 2016 Jul;24(6):447-52. doi: 10.1097/PAI.0000000000000202.

Abstract

In the process of developing a multiplex of 8 common breast cancer biomarkers (Her2/neu, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, Ki-67, aldehyde dehydrogenase-1, NaK-ATPase, cytokeratin 8/18, and myosin smooth muscle) on a single formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded slide using a sequential staining, imaging, and dye bleaching technology developed by General Electric Company, membranous Ki-67 staining was observed and colocalized with Her2/neu staining. Using immunohistochemistry as gold standards, we discovered that membranous Ki-67 was an artifact caused by the binding of cyanine 5-conjugated rabbit polyclonal Ki-67 antibody to a secondary cyanine 3-conjugated donkey anti-rabbit antibody which was previously applied and bound to rabbit Her2/neu antibody in our multiplexing experiment. After blocking with rabbit serum, a successful protocol for 8 biomarker multiplexing without cross-reactivity of antibodies from the same species was developed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Artifacts
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Coloring Agents*
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Humans
  • Ki-67 Antigen / metabolism*

Substances

  • Coloring Agents
  • Ki-67 Antigen