System and method for retrieval treatment of proteins in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue section

Abstract

A protein retrieval treatment system used for activating proteins contained in a deparaffinized tissue section obtained by removing paraffin from a formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue section. The protein retrieval treatment system includes: a dispensing unit for dispensing a retrieval treatment solution over a dispensing area including a measurement area on the deparaffinized tissue section; and a moist-heat treatment unit for heating, in a saturated water vapor, the deparaffinized tissue section with the dispensing area covered with the retrieval treatment solution.

1 . A protein retrieval treatment system for retrieval of protein molecules in a measurement area on a deparaffinized tissue section prepared by removing paraffin from a formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue section obtained by a formalin-fixing treatment followed by a paraffin-embedding treatment, the retrieval being performed for a mass spectrometry of the measurement area and achieved by dissociating a crosslink resulting from formalin fixation in the protein molecules contained in the measurement area, and the system comprising:
 a dispensing unit for dispensing a retrieval treatment solution over a dispensing area including the measurement area on the deparaffinized tissue section; and   a moist-heat treatment unit for heating, by using a saturated water vapor, the deparaffinized tissue section with the retrieval treatment solution put on the dispensing area.   
     
     
         2 . The protein retrieval treatment system according to  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing unit dispenses the retrieval treatment solution at predetermined space intervals so as to form a plurality of droplets separated from each other within the dispensing area. 
     
     
         3 . The protein retrieval treatment system according to  claim 2 , wherein a volume of each of the droplets and the space intervals of the droplets are set so that the dispensing area is covered with the plurality of droplets. 
     
     
         4 . The protein retrieval treatment system according to  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing unit dispenses the retrieval treatment solution a plurality of times onto a same spot within the dispensing area. 
     
     
         5 . A protein retrieval treatment method for retrieval of protein molecules in a measurement area on a deparaffinized tissue section prepared by removing paraffin from a formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue section obtained by a formalin-fixing treatment followed by a paraffin-embedding treatment, the retrieval being performed for a mass spectrometry of the measurement area and achieved by dissociating a crosslink resulting from formalin fixation in protein molecules contained in the measurement area, and the method comprising:
 a dispensing process in which a retrieval treatment solution is dispensed over a dispensing area including the measurement area on the deparaffinized tissue section; and   a moist-heat treatment process in which the deparaffinized tissue section with the retrieval treatment solution put on the dispensing area is heated by using a saturated water vapor.   
     
     
         6 . The protein retrieval treatment method according to  claim 5 , wherein the retrieval treatment solution is dispensed at predetermined space intervals so as to form a plurality of droplets separated from each other within the dispensing area. 
     
     
         7 . The protein retrieval treatment method according to  claim 6 , wherein a volume of each of the droplets and the space intervals of the droplets are set so that the dispensing area is covered with the plurality of droplets. 
     
     
         8 . The protein retrieval treatment method according to  claim 5 , wherein the retrieval treatment solution is dispensed a plurality of times onto a same spot within the dispensing area. 
     
     
         9 . The protein retrieval treatment method according to  claim 5 , wherein a pH of the retrieval treatment solution is equal to or higher than 9.