FOXP3 immunohistochemistry on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue: poor correlation between different antibodies

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Molecular Biology
• Pathology

Background:

• FOXP3 is a key transcription factor for regulatory T cells (Tregs).
• Tregs play crucial roles in immune regulation, autoimmunity, infections, and cancer.
• Monoclonal antibodies targeting FOXP3 are widely used for Treg identification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the performance of two common monoclonal FOXP3 antibodies.
• To compare their staining patterns on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues.

Main Methods:

• Immunohistochemistry using two distinct FOXP3 antibodies.
• Application on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections from various organs, including cervix and vulva.

Main Results:

• Unexpectedly significant differences in staining patterns were observed between the two antibodies.
• These differences were noted on different organ tissues, suggesting epitope-specific variations.
• This phenomenon has not been previously reported in FOXP3 antibody literature.

Conclusions:

• The choice of FOXP3 antibody can significantly influence staining results.
• This finding has critical implications for Treg research and diagnostics.
• Further investigation into antibody epitope specificity is warranted for reliable FOXP3 detection.