The use of immunohistochemistry for evaluating the liver

Immunohistochemistry has been utilized in recent years primarily for diagnosis of infectious diseases of the liver, especially in humans. The utility of immunohistochemistry has extended to experimental and toxicologic pathology in a variety of areas: identification of cell phenotype, cell receptors, cytokine and chemikine production, and functional cell changes such as enzyme induction. In addition, markers for experimental carcinogenesis studies are detectable by immunohistochemical changes as well as novel antigen induction such as placental glutathione-S-transferase, oncofetal proteins, oncogene products, and typing of neoplasms. Immunohistochemistry is also used to detect the origin and function of various cell types in developmental and toxicity studies. Careful use of immunohistochemical procedures in conjunction with routine pathology and molecular techniques enhance the ability of the toxicologic pathologist to diagnose unique conditions and to understand mechanisms of lesion development.