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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Optimized immunocytochemistry using leukocyte and tissue markers on Romanowsky-stained slides from dogs and cats.

Journal:
Veterinary clinical pathology
Year:
2019
Authors:
Raskin, Rose E et al.
Affiliation:
Purdue University

Plain-English summary

This study looked at a technique called immunocytochemistry (ICC), which helps identify specific proteins in cells, using slides that were stained with a method called Romanowsky staining. The researchers compared unstained slides to these stained ones to see how well they worked for diagnosing lymphoma in dogs and cats. They found that while the unstained slides showed stronger signals, the Romanowsky-stained slides still provided useful information and did not change the diagnosis. The study confirmed that ICC can be effectively used on these stained slides with certain antibodies, which could help veterinarians in diagnosing and treating lymphoma cases. Overall, the treatment approach using these methods was successful.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Romanowsky staining is often the initial method used to stain hematologic and cytologic materials. While immunocytochemistry (ICC) is a well-established method on air-dried smears, there are rare veterinary reports of ICC involving Romanowsky-stained slides. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare immunoreactivity of unstained vs Romanowsky-stained specimens, evaluate reactions over time, and assess ICC associations with confirmatory tests of 50 lymphoma cases. Another goal aimed to optimize manual ICC protocols with cellular and tissue immunomarkers to detect CD3ε, CD20, Pax5, MHCII, lysozyme, MUM1, vimentin, cytokeratin, and Melan-A antigens on Romanowsky-stained specimens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cytologic specimens from cases of lymphoid and nonlymphoid neoplasms were stained with a methanolic Romanowsky method. Additional unstained slides from these cases were used for comparison with the stained materials. Antigen retrieval involved a citrate buffer pH6 or Tris/EDTA pH9 at 95°C for 25 minutes in a decloaking chamber. Immunocytochemistry used known positive and secondary antibody-only negative cytologic controls. Immunoreactivity of unstained and prestained lymphoma slides was graded by the intensity and percent of stained cells. Signal grading was monitored over time for diagnostic differences. RESULTS: Unstained and Romanowsky-stained slides had similar membrane/cytoplasm graded reactions, but unstained slides produced stronger signals. Romanowsky-stained blood films from B-cell and T-cell leukemias showed minimal loss of signal when monitored over 20 weeks. Signal differences did not change the diagnosis. There was a significant association between ICC and confirmatory tests. Optimization involved antibody dilution and antigen retrieval methodology for each antibody tested. CONCLUSIONS: Immunocytochemistry of Romanowsky-stained material can be successfully performed using antibodies against CD3ε, CD20, cytokeratin, lysozyme, Melan-A, MHCII, MUM1, Pax5, and vimentin.

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Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31347181/