Ultrasensitive and multiplexed protein imaging with cleavable fluorescent tyramide and antibody stripping

Thai Pham, Christopher D. Nazaroff, Joshua Labaer, Jia Guo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Multiplexed single-cell analysis of proteins in their native cellular contexts holds great promise to reveal the composition, interaction and function of the distinct cell types in complex biological systems. However, the existing multiplexed protein imaging technologies are limited by their detection sensitivity or technical demands. To address these issues, here, we develop an ultrasensitive and multiplexed in situ protein profiling approach by reiterative staining with off-the-shelf antibodies and cleavable fluorescent tyramide (CFT). In each cycle of this approach, the protein targets are recognized by antibodies labeled with horseradish peroxidase, which catalyze the covalent deposition of CFT on or close to the protein targets. After imaging, the fluorophores are chemically cleaved, and the antibodies are stripped. Through continuous cycles of staining, imaging, fluorophore cleavage and antibody stripping, a large number of proteins can be quantified in individual cells in situ. Applying this method, we analyzed 20 different proteins in each of ~67,000 cells in a human formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tonsil tissue. Based on their unique protein expression profiles and microenvironment, these individual cells are partitioned into different cell clusters. We also explored the cell–cell interactions in the tissue by examining which specific cell clusters are selectively associating or avoiding each other.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number8644
JournalInternational journal of molecular sciences
Volume22
Issue number16
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2 2021

Keywords

  • Cell–cell interaction
  • Expression heterogeneity
  • Immunofluorescence
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In situ analysis
  • Proteomics
  • Single-cell

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Catalysis
  • Molecular Biology
  • Spectroscopy
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Inorganic Chemistry

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