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CD 68 positivity of the so-called meconium corpuscles in human foetal intestine
C Povýsil1, R Bennett, V Povýsilová
1Ustav patologie 1. LF UKa VFN, Katedra patologické anatomie IPVZ, Praha.
Insights
CD 68 antibodies, typically used for histiocytes, also stain lysosomal organelles. This study found CD 68 positivity in fetal intestinal meconium particles, revealing its specificity for lysosomes, not just cell types.
Area of Science:
- Histopathology
- Immunohistochemistry
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- CD 68 antibodies are established paraffin markers for histiocytes.
- These antibodies target a lysosome-associated glycoprotein, showing reactivity with monocyte/macrophage lineage cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the specificity of CD 68 antibodies beyond traditional cell markers.
- To identify the cellular or organelle-specific targets of CD 68.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical staining using CD 68 antibodies on fetal small intestine samples.
- Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining to identify carbohydrate-rich inclusions.
- Electron microscopy to confirm the ultrastructural nature of the inclusions.
Main Results:
- Distinct CD 68 positivity was observed in granular intraepithelial inclusions within the small intestine of 12-week-old human fetuses.
- These inclusions were PAS-positive and identified as meconium particles.
- Electron microscopy confirmed the lysosomal origin of these meconium particles.
Conclusions:
- CD 68 antibodies are primarily specific for lysosomal organelles rather than a specific cell type.
- This organelle specificity allows for CD 68 staining in epithelial cells containing lysosomes, such as those in meconium particles.
Abstract:
CD 68 antibodies are most frequently used as a reliable paraffin marker of histiocytes. The CD 68 clusters of antibodies recognize a 110-kDa glycoprotein associated with lysosomes and therefore these antibodies show visible reactivity with cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage. We observed distinct CD 68 positivity of granular intraepithelial inclusions in the small intestine of 12-week-old human foetuses. These PAS positive inclusions corresponded to the so-called meconium particles, whose lysosomal origin was confirmed by electron microscopy. Our new observation shows that CD 68 antibodies are specific mainly for organelles and not for a cell type and therefore the staining of epithelial cells containing lysosomes is possible.
