Simultaneous double labelling of routinely processed paraffin tissue sections using combined immunoperoxidase, immunofluorescence, and digital image editing

An innovative image editing system based on a sequential immunoperoxidase–immunofluorescence technique on routine histological sections is described. With this technique it is possible to identify different antigens in different cells, as well as co-localised antigens in the same cell. The method uses digital image editing to mix two independently captured images into one merged image. The technique was performed with indirect immunoperoxidase, followed by sequential indirect immunofluorescence, digital image acquisition and image editing. Multiple staining examples using anti-cytokeratin, anti-vimentin and anti-calbindin antibodies on canine skin and cerebellum, and feline pleural mesothelioma sections were performed in order to investigate the capabilities of the proposed technique. Our data demonstrated that this method can be easily used to assess multiple protein staining studies with minimum laboratory equipment, and that it allows a better structural visualisation of the tissue morphology compared to double immunofluorescence. Moreover, in contrast to double-immunoperoxidase, with this method it is possible to easily co-localise two different antigens in the same cell compartment.