R&D: Histological Phenotyping

🔬 A Unique Technology for Tissue Analysis

Unlike other technologies such as next-generation sequencing or flow cytometry, multiplex immunofluorescence (IHC) can simultaneously detect multiple biomarkers (detecting >2–6 targets, e.g., 5 + DNA) on a single tissue section while preserving tissue architecture and cellular interactions.

This technology provides spatial information on protein expression and cellular interactions within tissues, which is crucial for assessing disease progression or characterizing, for example, the tumor microenvironment.

🧭 Advantages and Innovations of Fluorescent Multiplexing

This technology is particularly valuable because certain cell subtypes require the combination of 2 or 3 markers for accurate identification. Using innovative systems such as tyramide-based fluorescent detection, sequential fluorescent multiplexing can be applied with antibodies from the same species or requiring different antigen retrieval conditions (see figure).

This approach opens new possibilities for maximizing the use of precious tissue samples and overcomes some limitations of traditional multiplexing, which is restricted to 3 markers. While less comprehensive than newer technologies like mass imaging or CODEX, it remains more accessible in terms of cost.

Fluorescent Multiplexing Example

🧩 Scientific Objectives for RHEM

The goal for RHEM is to provide researchers with new validated antibody panels to characterize cell populations and interactions, to study various biological processes (proliferation, cell death, DNA damage, etc.), and to explore cellular signaling pathways.