Methods to detect immuno-labelled molecules at increasingly higher resolution, even when present at low levels, are revolutionizing immunohistochemistry (IHC). These technologies can be valuable for management and examination of rare patient tissue specimens, and for improved accuracy of early disease detection. The purpose of this mini-review is to highlight recent multiplexing methods that are candidates for more prevalent use in clinical research and potential translation to the clinic. Multiplex IHC methods, which permit identification of at least 3 and up to 30 discrete antigens, have been divided into whole section staining and spatially-patterned staining categories. Associated signal enhancement technologies that can enhance performance and throughput of multiplex IHC assays are also discussed. Each multiplex IHC technique, detailed herein, is associated with several advantages as well as tradeoffs that must be taken into consideration for proper evaluation and use of the methods.

This paper describes a microfluidic-based assay capable of measuring gap-junction mediated dye diffusion in cultured cells. The technique exploits multi-stream laminar flow to selectively expose cells to different environments, enabling continuous loading of cells in one compartment while monitoring, in real time, dye diffusion into cells of a neighboring compartment. A simple one dimensional diffusion model fit to the data extracted the diffusion coefficient of four different dyes, 5-(6)-carboxyfluorescein (CFDA), 5-chloromethylfluorescein (CMFDA), Oregon green 488 carboxylic acid and calcein. Different inhibitors were assayed for their ability to reduce dye coupling. The chip can screen multiple inhibitors in parallel in the same cell preparation, demonstrating its potential for high throughput. The technique provides a convenient method to measure gap junction mediated diffusion and a screen for drugs that affect gap junction communication.

Transport across gap junction channels (GJCs) between neighboring cells is critical to synchronizing cell's electrical and metabolic activities and maintaining cell homeostasis. Here we present a non-invasive microfluidic method to measure molecular diffusion across GJCs in multiple 1D cell arrays in real time. Using the chip, selective loading of a membrane permeant fluorescence dye (carboxyfluorescein) in Normal Rat Kidney (NRK) cells shows that the dye was able to diffuse through three cells along single cell chains in ∼35 minutes. Application of 100 µM 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB) reversibly inhibits connexin-43 gap junctions in NRK cells; 0.8 mM 1-heptanol inhibits the diffusion partially. The method offers rapid exchange of reagents, enabling sequential screening of multiple gap junction specific drugs with only one preparation of cells. It is capable of measuring gap junction mediated diffusion between single cells.

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