Characterization of Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes (CTL) by Tissue Microarray

Tissue microarray (TMA) is a smart technical innovation recently imposed in pathology research. This technology provides a high-throughput analysis of multiple tissues at the same time. The technique allows faster analysis and considerably reducing costs for the staining because many small representative tissue samples from hundreds of different cases are assembled on a single histologic slide. This versatile technique may improve conventional microscopic techniques to detect and characterize cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) may be effectively employed in CTL characterization to identify the location and distribution of target antigens in tissues by staining with a specific antibody. The antibody may be conjugated to either a fluorescent or enzymatic label, and the location of the label seen through a microscope approximates the position of the target antigen. This article summarizes the technical aspects of tissue microarray construction and sectioning, advantages, application, and limitations associated with immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence.