Immunofluorescence Protocol for HNF4α (P1 and P2 isoforms)
This protocol can be used for immunostaining of mouse liver and intestinal tissues that are formalin fixed, cryopreserved in optimal cutting temperature (OCT) compound and sectioned (at 5um thickness) on to positively charged glass slides
Wash the dried frozen tissue sections with phosphate buffered saline (PBS): two times, 5 mins each wash. Don’t let slides dry out after this
Antigen retrieval step for P1/P2 staining:
For P1/P2 or P1-HNF4α staining: Immerse slides in 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in potassium-free PBS (pH 7.4) Microwave for 2 minutes at full power, simmer at 10% power for 7 mins (standard 1000 watts microwave oven) or autoclave @121C for 20 mins
For P2-HNF4α staining: Immerse slides in 10mM citrate buffer (pH 6.5). Autoclave @ 121C for 20 mins.
Let slides cool down for 15-20 mins
Wash with PBS: two times, 5 mins each wash
Incubate in Na-borohydride (1.5% in PBS) for 15 mins at room temperature
Wash with PBS: two times, 5 mins each wash
Incubate for at least 30 mins at room temperature in GB (Goat Serum: 5%+ Tween-20: 0.05% + Glycine: 0.1% + EDTA: 3mM+ NaCl: 150mM. Adjust pH to 7.4)
Wash 5 mins with PBS
Incubate in anti-mouse IgG (1:100 dilution) for 4 hrs at room temperature or overnight @4C
Wash with PBS-Tw (0.1 % Tween-20 in PBS): two times, 5 mins each wash
Wash 5 mins with PBS
Incubate in primary antibody diluted in GB/PBS overnight @4C (Antibody information: R&D Systems (Minneapolis, MN): P1/P2- HNF4α (#PP-H1415-00), P1-HNF4α (#PP-K9218-00) and P2-HNF4α (#PP-H6939-00). Recommended dilution: 1:300 for P1 or P1/P2 and 1:250 for P2. Dilutions may need to be adjusted for each new aliquot of antibody)
Wash with PBS-Tw: three times, 5 mins each wash
Optional (to stain nuclei): Incubate sections in To-Pro3 (red stain from Life Technologies, Carlsbad, CA; diluted 1:1000 in PBS) for 20 minutes at room temperature
Wash with PBS-Tw: two times, 5 mins each wash
Wash 5 mins with PBS
Incubate sections in secondary antibody conjugated to Alexa Fluor-488 and/or -546 (diluted 1:1000 in PBS-Tw) for at least 40 mins at room temperature
Readers should cite both the Bio-protocol preprint and the original research article where this protocol was used:
Chellappa, K, Deol, P and Sladek, F(2024). Immunofluorescence Protocol for HNF4α (P1 and P2 isoforms). Bio-protocol Preprint. DOI: 10.21769/p2551.
Chellappa, K., Deol, P., Evans, J. R., Vuong, L. M., Chen, G., Briançon, N., Bolotin, E., Lytle, C., Nair, M. G. and Sladek, F. M.(2016). Opposing roles of nuclear receptor HNF4α isoforms in colitis and colitis-associated colon cancer. eLife. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.10903
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