The Utility of the DNA Microarray Scanner to Simplify the Immunofluorescence Evaluation of Autoimmune Bullous Diseases

Abstract

A DNA microarray scanner was used as a digital fluorescence microscope to simplify the diagnosis of autoimmune bullous diseases. Frozen sections of skin biopsies were taken from 3 patients with bullous pemphigoid and 1 patient each with lichen planus pemphigoides, linear immunoglobulin (Ig) A disease, and dermatitis herpetiformis. After incubation with cyanine-labeled antibodies, the tissues were scanned at 5-μm resolution using an instrument originally designed to study gene expression. The microarray scanner’s large field of view, unlike that of fluorescence microscopy, allowed a view of the entire specimen, considerably easing the orientation of tissue. All images were diagnostic and included a linear pattern along the basement membrane zone (BMZ) using anti-IgG and anti-C3 in all cases of bullous pemphigoid, a linear pattern of igG along the BMZ in lichen planus pemphigoides, and a linear pattern of IgA along the BMZ in linear IgA dermatosis. IgA deposition along dermal papillary tips was seen in dermatitis herpetiformis, but a granular pattern was indiscernible at the 5-μm resolution. The advantage of the microarray scanner over standard fluorescence microscopy include speed, technical ease, large field of view, potential for visualizing multiple antibodies simultaneously in a tissue section, and convenience of digital image archiving.

Diagnostic Utility of Cytokeratin 17 Immunostaining in Morpheaform Basal Cell Carcinoma and for Facilitating the Detection of Tumor Cells at the Surgical Margins

“…Third, K17 immunostaining can be used diagnostically, in ambiguous basaloid proliferations, when the differential diagnosis includes BCC, desmoplastic trichoepithelioma, and trichoblastoma. Rapid methods of K17 immunolabeling in Mohs surgery will further enhance the diagnostic value of K17 expression …”

“…Rapid methods of K17 immunolabeling in Mohs surgery will further enhance the diagnostic value of K17 expression. 35 In summary, we determined the diagnostic utility of K17 immunolabeling. Our data showed that K17 successfully immunolabeled BCC.…”

Molecular Diagnosis in Autoimmune Skin Blistering Conditions

“…origin and preparation of the substrate) or to the interpreter. A promising alternative to the use of standard fluorescence microscopes for direct IF microscopy is the microarray scanner, which allows multiple antibodies to be visualized simultaneously, obtaining a larger field of view, and facilitating digital recording of images [ 170 ]. The need for standardization may be addressed by robotic preparation of slides and development of a computer-aided IF pattern analysis system [ 171 - 174 ].…”

Smart Surface for Elution of Protein–Protein Bound Particles: Nanonewton Dielectrophoretic Forces Using Atomic Layer Deposited Oxides

“…Mass spectrometry requires expensive apparatus and has high maintenance costs as well. Microarray technology requires expensive fluorescent detection apparatus, including an excitation laser, a photodetector, scanning apparatus, resulting in a bulky optical setup. − The bulkiness results from the challenge of imaging fluorescence signal over a relatively wide area (greater than 1 cm 2 ) which necessitates either the whole surface to be scanned or a wide field image sensor. Various efforts are being made in developing miniaturized wide field optical cell imaging systems which have proved successful in particular work done by Ozcan et al; − however, a solution which would not require wide field analysis where detection at a single point would suffice would result in significantly lower cost.…”