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Aptahistochemistry in diagnostic pathology: technical scrutiny and feasibility

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Abstract

Antibodies have been the workhorse for diagnostic immunohistochemistry to specifically interrogate the expression of certain protein to aid in histopathological diagnosis. This review introduces another dimension of histochemistry that employs aptamers as the core tool, the so-called aptahistochemistry. Aptamers are an emerging class of molecular recognition elements that could recapitulate the roles of antibodies. The many advantageous properties of aptamers suited for this diagnostic platform are scrutinized. An in-depth discussion on the technical aspects of aptahistochemistry is provided with close step-by-step comparison to the more familiarized immunohistochemical procedures, namely functionalization of the aptamer as a probe, antigen retrieval, optimization with emphasis on incubation parameters and visualization methods. This review offers rationales to overcome the anticipated challenges in transition from immunohistochemistry to aptahistochemistry, which is deemed feasible for an average diagnostic pathology laboratory.

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Acknowledgements

M. Citartan, E-S Ch’ng and TH Tang were supported by an FRGS grant (203/CIPPT/6711441), an E-science grant (305/CIPPT/613235) and a University Science Malaysia Research University Grant (1001.CIPPT.811317), respectively. TS Rozhdestvensky was supported by a Germany National Genome Research Network (grant #NGFNIII 01GS0808).

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  1. Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kepala Batas, 13200, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

    Bakhtiar A. Bukari, Marimuthu Citartan, Ewe Seng Ch’ng, Mawethu P. Bilibana & Thean-Hock Tang

  2. Institute of Experimental Pathology, Center for Molecular Biology of Inflammation (ZMBE), University of Münster, Münster, D-48149, Germany

    Timofey Rozhdestvensky

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  1. Bakhtiar A. Bukari
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  2. Marimuthu Citartan
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  3. Ewe Seng Ch’ng
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  4. Mawethu P. Bilibana
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Correspondence to Ewe Seng Ch’ng or Thean-Hock Tang.

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Bukari, B.A., Citartan, M., Ch’ng, E. et al. Aptahistochemistry in diagnostic pathology: technical scrutiny and feasibility. Histochem Cell Biol 147, 545–553 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00418-017-1561-9

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