IHC
Science & Engineering abbreviation · Biology
| Stands for | Immunohistochemistry |
|---|---|
| Categories | Science & Engineering |
IHC stands for Immunohistochemistry, a biology abbreviation.
Staining method that uses labeled antibodies to show where a particular protein is located in thin tissue sections. Pathologists use IHC to classify tumors, for example testing breast cancers for HER2 and hormone receptors, and researchers use it to map protein expression in organs.
Example: IHC showed strong nuclear estrogen-receptor staining in 90% of tumor cells.
Usage notes
Albert Coons labeled antibodies with fluorescent dye in the early 1940s, the forerunner of immunostaining. Most clinical IHC uses an enzyme such as horseradish peroxidase that deposits a brown pigment. When cells rather than tissue sections are stained, the method is called immunocytochemistry (ICC).
Related abbreviations
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- Km – Michaelis constant
- KO – Knockout
- LB – Lysogeny broth
- LUCA – Last universal common ancestor
- mAb – Monoclonal antibody