Immunohistochemical Detection of Estrogen Receptor-Beta (ERβ) with PPZ0506 Antibody in Murine Tissue: From Pitfalls to Optimization
The estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) is physiologically essential for reproductive biology and is implicated in various diseases. However, despite more than 20 years of intensive research on ERβ, there are still uncertainties about its distribution in tissues and cellular expression. Several studies sho...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-12-01
|
| Series: | Biomedicines |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/10/12/3100 |
| _version_ | 1827641702525960192 |
|---|---|
| author | Sarah K. Schröder Carmen G. Tag Jan C. Kessel Per Antonson Ralf Weiskirchen |
| author_facet | Sarah K. Schröder Carmen G. Tag Jan C. Kessel Per Antonson Ralf Weiskirchen |
| author_sort | Sarah K. Schröder |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) is physiologically essential for reproductive biology and is implicated in various diseases. However, despite more than 20 years of intensive research on ERβ, there are still uncertainties about its distribution in tissues and cellular expression. Several studies show contrasts between mRNA and protein levels, and the use of knockout strategies revealed that many commercially available antibodies gave false-positive expression results. Recently, a specific monoclonal antibody against human ERβ (PPZ0506) showed cross-reactivity with rodents and was optimized for the detection of rat ERβ. Herein, we established an immunohistochemical detection protocol for ERβ protein in mouse tissue. Staining was optimized on murine ovaries, as granulosa cells are known to strongly express ERβ. The staining results were confirmed by western blot analysis and RT-PCR. To obtain accurate and reliable staining results, different staining conditions were tested in paraffin-embedded tissues. Different pitfalls were encountered in immunohistochemical detection. Strong heat-induced epitope retrieval (HIER) and appropriate antibody dilution were required to visualize specific nuclear expression of ERβ. Finally, the specificity of the antibody was confirmed by using ovaries from <i>Esr2</i>-depleted mice. However, in some animals, strong (non-specific) background staining appeared. These signals could not be significantly alleviated with commercially available additional blocking solutions and are most likely due to estrus-dependent expression of endogenous immunoglobulins. In summary, our study showed that the antibody PPZ0506, originally directed against human ERβ, is also suitable for reliable detection of murine ERβ. An established staining protocol mitigated ambiguities regarding the expression and distribution of ERβ in different tissues and will contribute to an improved understanding of its role and functions in murine tissues in the future. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:18:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b1ca12ab93654cdd96b90cda2cc212db |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9059 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:18:31Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomedicines |
| spelling | doaj.art-b1ca12ab93654cdd96b90cda2cc212db2023-11-24T13:26:47ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592022-12-011012310010.3390/biomedicines10123100Immunohistochemical Detection of Estrogen Receptor-Beta (ERβ) with PPZ0506 Antibody in Murine Tissue: From Pitfalls to OptimizationSarah K. Schröder0Carmen G. Tag1Jan C. Kessel2Per Antonson3Ralf Weiskirchen4Institute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry (IFMPEGKC), RWTH University Hospital Aachen, D-52074 Aachen, GermanyInstitute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry (IFMPEGKC), RWTH University Hospital Aachen, D-52074 Aachen, GermanyInstitute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry (IFMPEGKC), RWTH University Hospital Aachen, D-52074 Aachen, GermanyDepartment of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, SE 14157 Huddinge, SwedenInstitute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry (IFMPEGKC), RWTH University Hospital Aachen, D-52074 Aachen, GermanyThe estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) is physiologically essential for reproductive biology and is implicated in various diseases. However, despite more than 20 years of intensive research on ERβ, there are still uncertainties about its distribution in tissues and cellular expression. Several studies show contrasts between mRNA and protein levels, and the use of knockout strategies revealed that many commercially available antibodies gave false-positive expression results. Recently, a specific monoclonal antibody against human ERβ (PPZ0506) showed cross-reactivity with rodents and was optimized for the detection of rat ERβ. Herein, we established an immunohistochemical detection protocol for ERβ protein in mouse tissue. Staining was optimized on murine ovaries, as granulosa cells are known to strongly express ERβ. The staining results were confirmed by western blot analysis and RT-PCR. To obtain accurate and reliable staining results, different staining conditions were tested in paraffin-embedded tissues. Different pitfalls were encountered in immunohistochemical detection. Strong heat-induced epitope retrieval (HIER) and appropriate antibody dilution were required to visualize specific nuclear expression of ERβ. Finally, the specificity of the antibody was confirmed by using ovaries from <i>Esr2</i>-depleted mice. However, in some animals, strong (non-specific) background staining appeared. These signals could not be significantly alleviated with commercially available additional blocking solutions and are most likely due to estrus-dependent expression of endogenous immunoglobulins. In summary, our study showed that the antibody PPZ0506, originally directed against human ERβ, is also suitable for reliable detection of murine ERβ. An established staining protocol mitigated ambiguities regarding the expression and distribution of ERβ in different tissues and will contribute to an improved understanding of its role and functions in murine tissues in the future.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/10/12/3100estrogen receptor beta (ERβ)<i>Esr2</i>PPZ0506immunohistochemistrystainingantibody validation |
| spellingShingle | Sarah K. Schröder Carmen G. Tag Jan C. Kessel Per Antonson Ralf Weiskirchen Immunohistochemical Detection of Estrogen Receptor-Beta (ERβ) with PPZ0506 Antibody in Murine Tissue: From Pitfalls to Optimization Biomedicines estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) <i>Esr2</i> PPZ0506 immunohistochemistry staining antibody validation |
| title | Immunohistochemical Detection of Estrogen Receptor-Beta (ERβ) with PPZ0506 Antibody in Murine Tissue: From Pitfalls to Optimization |
| title_full | Immunohistochemical Detection of Estrogen Receptor-Beta (ERβ) with PPZ0506 Antibody in Murine Tissue: From Pitfalls to Optimization |
| title_fullStr | Immunohistochemical Detection of Estrogen Receptor-Beta (ERβ) with PPZ0506 Antibody in Murine Tissue: From Pitfalls to Optimization |
| title_full_unstemmed | Immunohistochemical Detection of Estrogen Receptor-Beta (ERβ) with PPZ0506 Antibody in Murine Tissue: From Pitfalls to Optimization |
| title_short | Immunohistochemical Detection of Estrogen Receptor-Beta (ERβ) with PPZ0506 Antibody in Murine Tissue: From Pitfalls to Optimization |
| title_sort | immunohistochemical detection of estrogen receptor beta erβ with ppz0506 antibody in murine tissue from pitfalls to optimization |
| topic | estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) <i>Esr2</i> PPZ0506 immunohistochemistry staining antibody validation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/10/12/3100 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sarahkschroder immunohistochemicaldetectionofestrogenreceptorbetaerbwithppz0506antibodyinmurinetissuefrompitfallstooptimization AT carmengtag immunohistochemicaldetectionofestrogenreceptorbetaerbwithppz0506antibodyinmurinetissuefrompitfallstooptimization AT janckessel immunohistochemicaldetectionofestrogenreceptorbetaerbwithppz0506antibodyinmurinetissuefrompitfallstooptimization AT perantonson immunohistochemicaldetectionofestrogenreceptorbetaerbwithppz0506antibodyinmurinetissuefrompitfallstooptimization AT ralfweiskirchen immunohistochemicaldetectionofestrogenreceptorbetaerbwithppz0506antibodyinmurinetissuefrompitfallstooptimization |