Containing 3 BSA (sheep anti-mouse FITC conjugated, goat anti-rabbit TRITC conjugated; sheep

Containing 3 BSA (sheep anti-mouse FITC conjugated, goat anti-rabbit TRITC conjugated; sheep anti-goat CFTM64 conjugated (SIGMA)). After washing in PBS and in H2O, the samples were counterstained with 1mg/ml DAPI in H2O and then mounted with anti-fading medium (0.21 M DABCO and 90 glycerol in 0.02 M Tris, pH 8.0). Negative control samples were not incubated with the primary antibody. The ZK 36374 web confocal imaging was performed on a Leica TCS SP2 AOBS confocal laser scanning microscope. Excitation and detection of the samples were carried out in sequential mode to avoid overlapping of signals. Sections were scanned with laser intensity, confocal aperture, gain and blacklevel setting kept constant for all samples. Optical sections were obtained at increments of 0.3 mm in the z-axis and were digitized with a scanning mode format of 512 x 512 or 1024 x 1024 pixels and 256 grey levels. The confocal serial sections were processed with the Leica LCS software to obtain three-dimensional projections. Image rendering was performed by adobe Photoshop software. The original green fluorescent confocal images were converted to grey-scale and median filtering was performed. An intensity value ranging from 0 (black) to 255 (white) was assigned to each pixel. Background fluorescence was subtracted and immunofluorescence intensity (IF) was calculated as the average for each selected area. The fluorescence intensity at the selected areas, linearly correlated with the number of pixels, was quantitatively analysedMaterials and Methods Ethics StatementAll patients enrolled in this study, which underwent colonoscopy or surgical resection for colorectal cancer at the University Hospital of Modena, were asked to give an informed written consent to this study protocol, which was specifically approved by the Comitato Etico Provinciale di Modena.Study PopulationSixty samples of normal colorectal mucosa (NM) were PD 168393 collected from 20 patients during colonoscopy, 3 samples for each patient. One sample for each patient was fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin for histology and RNA extraction; the others were frozen at 280uC. All patients had normal colonoscopy. Thirty microadenomas (MA) were also identified in 11 patients, and removed after operation for colorectal cancer on surgical specimens, after staining of the mucosa with a 0.1 methylene-blue solution in saline, and observation under a dissecting microscope [30]. The average multiplicity of the MA examined is 79 (range 30?20), and all showed low grade dysplasia. One MA for each patient was fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin, the others were frozen at 280uC. Finally, 60 samples of colorectal cancer (CRC) were collected from 20 patients operated on for colon or rectal cancer, a sample for each patient was fixed in formalin and the other two were frozen at 280uC, as described above.Western Blot AnalysisOne sample frozen at 280uC for each subject was used for western blot analysis. Whole cell lysates were obtained from 20 samples of NM, 10 MA, and 20 CRC, extracted with hypotonic buffer (50 mM Tris-Cl, pH 7.8, containing 1 Nonidet P40, 140 mM NaCl, 0.1 SDS, 0.1 Na deoxycholate, 1 mM Na3VO4, and freshly added protease inhibitor cocktail). LysatesThPOK in Colorectal Carcinogenesisusing the standard imaging analysis software of an NIS-Elements system. To each sample was assigned a code number and the score, referred to as 26001275 ImmunoFluorescence Intensity Score (IFIS), was determined by an observer who was blind t.Containing 3 BSA (sheep anti-mouse FITC conjugated, goat anti-rabbit TRITC conjugated; sheep anti-goat CFTM64 conjugated (SIGMA)). After washing in PBS and in H2O, the samples were counterstained with 1mg/ml DAPI in H2O and then mounted with anti-fading medium (0.21 M DABCO and 90 glycerol in 0.02 M Tris, pH 8.0). Negative control samples were not incubated with the primary antibody. The confocal imaging was performed on a Leica TCS SP2 AOBS confocal laser scanning microscope. Excitation and detection of the samples were carried out in sequential mode to avoid overlapping of signals. Sections were scanned with laser intensity, confocal aperture, gain and blacklevel setting kept constant for all samples. Optical sections were obtained at increments of 0.3 mm in the z-axis and were digitized with a scanning mode format of 512 x 512 or 1024 x 1024 pixels and 256 grey levels. The confocal serial sections were processed with the Leica LCS software to obtain three-dimensional projections. Image rendering was performed by adobe Photoshop software. The original green fluorescent confocal images were converted to grey-scale and median filtering was performed. An intensity value ranging from 0 (black) to 255 (white) was assigned to each pixel. Background fluorescence was subtracted and immunofluorescence intensity (IF) was calculated as the average for each selected area. The fluorescence intensity at the selected areas, linearly correlated with the number of pixels, was quantitatively analysedMaterials and Methods Ethics StatementAll patients enrolled in this study, which underwent colonoscopy or surgical resection for colorectal cancer at the University Hospital of Modena, were asked to give an informed written consent to this study protocol, which was specifically approved by the Comitato Etico Provinciale di Modena.Study PopulationSixty samples of normal colorectal mucosa (NM) were collected from 20 patients during colonoscopy, 3 samples for each patient. One sample for each patient was fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin for histology and RNA extraction; the others were frozen at 280uC. All patients had normal colonoscopy. Thirty microadenomas (MA) were also identified in 11 patients, and removed after operation for colorectal cancer on surgical specimens, after staining of the mucosa with a 0.1 methylene-blue solution in saline, and observation under a dissecting microscope [30]. The average multiplicity of the MA examined is 79 (range 30?20), and all showed low grade dysplasia. One MA for each patient was fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin, the others were frozen at 280uC. Finally, 60 samples of colorectal cancer (CRC) were collected from 20 patients operated on for colon or rectal cancer, a sample for each patient was fixed in formalin and the other two were frozen at 280uC, as described above.Western Blot AnalysisOne sample frozen at 280uC for each subject was used for western blot analysis. Whole cell lysates were obtained from 20 samples of NM, 10 MA, and 20 CRC, extracted with hypotonic buffer (50 mM Tris-Cl, pH 7.8, containing 1 Nonidet P40, 140 mM NaCl, 0.1 SDS, 0.1 Na deoxycholate, 1 mM Na3VO4, and freshly added protease inhibitor cocktail). LysatesThPOK in Colorectal Carcinogenesisusing the standard imaging analysis software of an NIS-Elements system. To each sample was assigned a code number and the score, referred to as 26001275 ImmunoFluorescence Intensity Score (IFIS), was determined by an observer who was blind t.