imunohistokimia

Imunohistokimia, often abbreviated as IHC, is a laboratory technique used to detect and localize specific antigens within cells and tissues. It combines the principles of immunology and histochemistry. The process relies on the highly specific binding of antibodies to their corresponding antigens. In IHC, a tissue sample is first fixed and processed to preserve its cellular structure. Then, a primary antibody, which is designed to recognize and bind to the target antigen of interest, is applied to the tissue. After washing away unbound primary antibody, a secondary antibody is introduced. This secondary antibody is conjugated to an enzyme or a fluorescent marker. If an enzyme is used, a chromogen is added, which the enzyme converts into a visible colored precipitate at the site of antigen-antibody binding. If a fluorescent marker is used, the location of the antigen can be visualized under a fluorescence microscope. IHC is a powerful diagnostic tool in various fields, particularly in pathology for diagnosing diseases like cancer, where the presence or absence of specific proteins can indicate the type and stage of a tumor. It is also used in research to study protein expression patterns and cellular localization. The specificity of the antibody-antigen reaction is crucial for accurate results, and careful control experiments are often performed to ensure reliability.