Lab & analytical techniques · Reference
What is immunohistochemistry?
Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a laboratory method that detects specific molecules within a tissue section using labelled antibodies, so the location of a target can be seen directly against the tissue’s structure under a microscope.
How the method works
In immunohistochemistry, a thin tissue section mounted on a slide is treated with a primary antibody chosen to bind a particular target molecule (antigen). After unbound antibody is washed away, a detection system reveals where the antibody bound: commonly a labelled secondary antibody carrying an enzyme or a fluorophore. An enzyme converts a substrate into a coloured deposit at the site, or a fluorophore emits light when illuminated. The result is examined under a microscope, so the target appears as stain localised within the tissue’s structure, preserving spatial context that solution-based assays lose.
Why antibodies make it specific
The specificity of IHC comes from the antibody, which recognises a particular region (epitope) of the target molecule, allowing one antigen to be picked out among many.
Careful method design is essential: tissue must be properly fixed and prepared, the antibody validated, and appropriate positive and negative controls included, because non-specific binding can produce misleading staining. It shares its antibody-based principle with assays such as the ELISA and the Western blot, but uniquely preserves location within intact tissue.
Uses in research
In research, immunohistochemistry is used to map where proteins are expressed across tissues, to compare expression between samples, and to characterise cell types within their natural arrangement. It is widely applied in cell biology, developmental biology, and neuroscience. Reproducible results depend on validated antibodies, standardised tissue preparation, documented controls, and reported imaging conditions, so that staining patterns are reliable and comparable between laboratories.
Key facts
At a glance
- Abbreviation: IHC
- Detects: specific antigens within a tissue section
- Specificity from: antibody binding to an epitope
- Label: an enzyme (coloured deposit) or a fluorophore (light)
- Key strength: shows the location of a target within tissue
- Examined under: a microscope
Common questions
FAQ
What does immunohistochemistry detect?+
Immunohistochemistry detects specific molecules (antigens) within a tissue section using antibodies, and shows exactly where in the tissue they are located. A label produces a visible stain at the site where the antibody binds its target.
How does immunohistochemistry differ from ELISA?+
Both use antibodies to detect a target, but an ELISA measures a target in a liquid sample and reports an overall amount, whereas immunohistochemistry works on a tissue section and shows where the target sits within the tissue’s intact structure.
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