Testimonies

"In the Rheumatology lab, we study molecular mechanisms of osteoarthritis (OA). We work with human OA primary tissue and two mice models of OA. Human samples (OA femoral heads, OA vertebral osteophytes, OA knee slices…) come directly from the operating room and are next processed in the lab.

OA disease scoring as well as osteophyte sample characterization involve specific histo-stainings whithin the human/murine joint (mainly the Safranin-O Fast Green, Masson Trichrome, Hematoxyline/Eosine stainings…). Moreover, in human and mice primary tissues, immunohistochemistries (IHC) using specific antibodies are essential to give relevance to the in vitro part we develop further with derived cell culture.

As a consequence, PFIHC is a central player for us : they provide us services and advices to deel with such precious primary tissues that are furthermore hard tissues like bone and cartilage (known to be difficult to process). For decalcified human/mice samples, the paraffine coating and trimming steps are routinely performed at the PFIH. Moreover, for mice joint paraffine coating, the right orientation/angle is always tricky to obtain but IHC platform has now the expertise to handle these particular samples. We also subcontract the hematoxyline counterstainings of our IHC at the PF.

In terms of development, PFIHC is also of great help. Indeed, recently, we needed to obtain fresh frozen slices of non decalcified hard tissue (bone/cartilage human samples), with a specific thickness. Together with Leica support, PFIHC accept to test tungstene blade in their cryostat and finally succeeded in the trimming of these hard tissues. We are now trying to develop a protocol of IHC with these specific slices, with the PFIHC help. People from the PF are always ready to talk of specific IHC issues and share expertise to bring solutions and improve protocols". 

Edith Charlier, Laboratory of Rhumatology, GIGA