TechNotes

What Tools are Available for Immuno-Oncology Research?

Immuno-oncology, also named cancer immunotherapy, refers to the use of a patient’s own immune system for the treatment of cancer. Over the past decade, research about the role of the immune system in controlling tumorigenesis and tumor progression showed that tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in cancer tissue, and in particular, the presence of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells and the ratio of CD8+ effector T cells/CD4+/forkhead box P3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), seem to correlate with improved prognosis and long-term survival in many solid tumors. However, activation of T cells requires two signals: 1) recognition of the antigenic peptide/major histocompatibility complex (MHC) by the T cell receptor (TCR) and 2) antigen-independent co-stimulation induced by interactions between co-signaling molecules expressed on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and their T cell-expressed receptors. Read more.

10 Tips for Optimizing In Situ Hybridization

Enzo Life Sciences provides more than 40 years of experience in the manufacturing and supply of research kits, biochemicals and biologicals. As Scientists Enabling Scientists, we are happy to provide simple but useful tips for improving daily tasks as well as the overall quality of your research. With this in mind, here is a comprehensive list of tips for achieving high quality data by in situ hybridization, a widely used biological technique providing the end user with accurate localization of endogenous, bacterial or viral nucleic acids such as DNA, mRNA, and microRNA in metaphase spreads, cells, and tissue preparations. Read more.

Tools for Studying Cell Death

In adult tissues, cell death balances cell division. The number of cells in multicellular organisms is tightly regulated. Cellular homeostasis is achieved by controlling the rate of cell division and the rate of cell death. Cells die as a result of chemical and physical events, or “insults,” such as radiation, heat, toxic substances, bodily trauma, or injury and lack of oxygen. Injured cells swell up, burst, and spill their contents, undergoing unplanned cell death. For many years, biologists have known that cells die at predictable points during development and this represents programmed cell death (PCD). Read more.

How to Select & Optimize Primary Antibodies for IHC

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a widely used technique to analyze the anatomy of the tissue of interest and to visualize the expression, the localization, and the intensity of a specific antigen. Although IHC is a relatively easy and straightforward technique, the quality of the staining may be influenced by several variables that need to be considered to produce reliable and consistent data. Enzo‘s complete set of IHC tools improves the quality and efficiency of your IHC process from start to finish. Avoid ambiguity with high-sensitivity and low background reagents that are compatible with manual and automated platforms. Combined with the market’s most extensive palette of unique chromogens, Enzo provides the flexibility needed for simple or complex protocols. Read more.

CYTAG^® SuperCGH Used In Prenatal Diagnostics

Microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) is a molecular diagnostic technique that detects chromosomal copy number gains and losses present in genetic diseases and cancers. Array CGH compares differences in copy number of test sample DNA suspected to have chromosomal abnormalities with a reference control sample with the complementary normal DNA (cDNA). Our CYTAG® SuperCGH Labeling Kit has been optimized to label low input DNA for dual sample comparative genomic hybridization (CGF) on oligonucleotide arrays. We empower our end-users with a proprietary labeling technology that utilizes a shorter workflow while providing them with the ability to achieve superior labeling efficiency with greater sensitivity and fewer failed trials. The CYTAG® SuperCGH Labeling Kit comes equipped with all necessary reagents for labeling such as our fully optimized nucleotide mixes that contain either Cyanine 3 or Cyanine 5-labeled dUTPs and purification components. Read more.

Immunohistochemistry Troubleshooting Guide

Enzo provides over 40 years of experience in the manufacturing and supply of research kits, biochemicals, and biologicals. As Scientists Enabling Scientists, we realize the value in providing relevant information to our customers working in the fields of life sciences, drug development and clinical research. We are happy to provide simple yet useful tips and guidance for your research needs. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a widely used technique allowing the end user not only to analyze the anatomy of the tissue of interest but also to visualize the expression, the localization, and the intensity of a specific antigen on a tissue section. Although IHC is a relatively easy and straightforward technique, the quality of the staining may be influenced by several variables. With this in mind, we have compiled a troubleshooting guide to help achieve high quality IHC data. Read more.

High-Quality IHC Reagents Reduce False Positives

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a widely used biological technique, which allows the researcher to analyze the anatomy of the tissue of interest and to visualize the distribution, localization, and intensity of expression of a specific antigen or cellular components in health and disease. It is an important tool for scientific research as evidenced by an exponential increase in publications in IHC applications over the last couple of decades. Many improvements in the field of IHC have greatly expanded the application of this technique. Pathologists can now make definitive diagnoses and treatment decisions based on cellular presence or absence of a particular antigen. Robust methods of generating antigen-specific antibodies and automation of the assay are but a few of the advances that have contributed to the successful application of IHC in differential diagnoses, which were not possible by conventional analysis with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Read more.

Pathways to Prevent Early Cellular Senescence

Aging is characterized by a progressive decline in cell and tissue function in multicellular organisms. Cells continually experience stress and damage from internal and external sources and their responses range from complete recovery to cell death. Proliferating cells initiate an additional response by adopting a state of permanent cell-cycle arrest commonly known as cellular senescence. Cellular senescence is a state characterized by an inability of cells to proliferate despite the presence of sufficient nutrients and mitogens while maintaining cell viability and metabolic activity. There is mounting evidence that stress response termed cellular senescence links multiple pathologies of aging. Great progress has been made in the past decade in understanding an ever growing number of stimuli that induce senescence and linking these mechanisms to cancer protection and aging. Anti-aging compounds regulate energy metabolism and ROS-induced stress pathways. However, there are many gaps in our understanding of the complex role of cellular...Read more.