CD4 Antibody - BSA Free

Immunocytochemistry Protocol

Culture cells to appropriate density in 35 mm culture dishes or 6-well plates.

1. Remove culture medium and wash the cells briefly in PBS. Add 10% formalin to the dish and fix at room temperature for 10 minutes.
2. Remove the formalin and wash the cells in PBS.
3. Permeablize the cells with 0.1% Triton X100 or other suitable detergent for 10 min.
4. Remove the permeablization buffer and wash three times for 10 minutes each in PBS. Be sure to not let the specimen dry out.
5. To block nonspecific antibody binding, incubate in 10% normal goat serum from 1 hour to overnight at room temperature.
6. Add primary antibody at appropriate dilution and incubate overnight at 4C.
7. Remove primary antibody and replace with PBS. Wash three times for 10 minutes each.
8. Add secondary antibody at appropriate dilution. Incubate for 1 hour at room temperature.
9. Remove secondary antibody and replace with PBS. Wash three times for 10 minutes each.
10. Counter stain DNA with DAPi if required.

Immunohistochemistry-Paraffin Embedded Sections

Antigen Unmasking:
Bring slides to a boil in 10 mM sodium citrate buffer (pH 6.0) then maintain at a sub-boiling temperature for 10 minutes. Cool slides on bench-top for 30 minutes (keep slides in the sodium citrate buffer all the time).

Staining:
1. Wash sections in deionized water three times for 5 minutes each.
2. Wash sections in PBS for 5 minutes.
3. Block each section with 100-400 ul blocking solution (1% BSA in PBS) for 1 hour at room temperature.
4. Remove blocking solution and add 100-400 ul diluted primary antibody. Incubate overnight at 4 C.
5. Remove antibody solution and wash sections in wash buffer three times for 5 minutes each.
6. Add 100-400 ul HRP polymer conjugated secondary antibody. Incubate 30 minutes at room temperature.
7. Wash sections three times in wash buffer for 5 minutes each.
8. Add 100-400 ul DAB substrate to each section and monitor staining closely.
9. As soon as the sections develop, immerse slides in deionized water.
10. Counterstain sections in hematoxylin.
11. Wash sections in deionized water two times for 5 minutes each.
12. Dehydrate sections.
13. Mount coverslips.

Western Blot Protocol

1. Perform SDS-PAGE on samples to be analyzed, loading 10-25 ug of total protein per lane.
2. Transfer proteins to PVDF membrane according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the membrane and transfer apparatus.
3. Stain the membrane with Ponceau S (or similar product) to assess transfer success, and mark molecular weight standards where appropriate.
4. Rinse the blot TBS -0.05% Tween 20 (TBST).
5. Block the membrane in 5% Non-fat milk in TBST (blocking buffer) for at least 1 hour.
6. Wash the membrane in TBST three times for 10 minutes each.
7. Dilute primary antibody in blocking buffer and incubate overnight at 4C with gentle rocking.
8. Wash the membrane in TBST three times for 10 minutes each.
9. Incubate the membrane in diluted HRP conjugated secondary antibody in blocking buffer (as per manufacturer's instructions) for 1 hour at room temperature.
10. Wash the blot in TBST three times for 10 minutes each (this step can be repeated as required to reduce background).
11. Apply the detection reagent of choice in accordance with the manufacturers instructions.