Table 2.
Immunohistochemical markers to analyze full thickness biopsy of patients with CIPO
| Markers | Cell targets and sites | Description |
| PGP9.5, NSE, MAP-2, NFs, tubulins, Hu C/D | Neurons: Membrane/Cytoplasmic | Identification of the general structure of the ENS |
| β-S-100, GFAP | Glial cells: Cytoplasmic | Detection of enteroglial cells |
| Kit | Interstitial cells of Cajal: Membrane/Cytoplasmic | Different ICC networks |
| SP, VIP, PACAP, CGRP, NPY, Galanin, 5-HT, NOS, ChAT, somatostatin, Calbindin, NeuN, NK1, NK2 and NK3 | Subclasses of enteric neurons; interstitial cells of Cajal: Membrane/Cytoplasmic | Characterization of neurochemical coding and enteric neuron subclasses; subsets of interstitial cells of Cajal |
| Bcl-2, TUNEL, Caspase-3, Caspase-8, Apaf-1 | Apoptosis and related mechanisms:Nuclear/Cytoplasmic | Assessment of apoptosis and related pathways |
| Actin, myosin, desmin, smoothelin | Smooth muscle cells: Cytoplasmic | Assessment of smooth muscle integrity |
| CD3, CD4, CD8, CD79α, CD68; MIP-1α, TNF-α, IFN-γ | Immune cells, chemokines and cytokines: Membrane/Cytoplasmic | Evaluation of B (CD79α) and T-lymphocytes (CD3), T-helper (CD4), T-suppressor (CD8), macrophages (CD68) in enteric ganglionitis; MIP-1α is a chemokine; TNF-α and IFN-γ are inflammatory cytokines |
Bcl-2: B cell lymphoma-2 protein; ChAT: Choline acetyltransferase; CGRP: Calcitonin gene-related peptide; ENS: Enteric nervous system; GFAP: Glial fibrillary acidic protein; Hu C/D: Hu C/D molecular antigen; IFN-γ: Interferon γ; MAP-2: Microtubule associated protein-2; MIP1-α: Macrophage inflammatory protein-1α; NeuN: Neuronal-specific nuclear protein; NFs: Neurofilaments; NK1, NK2, NK3: Neurokinin1, neurokinin2, neurokinin3; NOS: Nitric oxide synthase; NPY: Neuropeptide Y; NSE: Neuron-specific enolase; PACAP: Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide; PGP9.5: Protein gene product 9.5; 5-HT: 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin); SP: Substance P; TNF-α: Tumor necrosis factor α; Tubulins: Cytoskeletal proteins; TUNEL: Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling; VIP: Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide.