THE USE OF IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY FOR EVALUATING THE LIVER

Immunohistochemistry has been utilized in recent years primarily for d iagnosis of infectious diseases of the liver, especially in humans. Th e utility of immunohistochemistry has extended to experimental and tox icologic pathology in a variety of areas: identification of cell pheno type, cell receptors, cytokine and chemikine production, and functiona l cell changes such as enzyme induction. In addition, markers for expe rimental carcinogenesis studies are detectable by immunohistochemical changes as well as novel antigen induction such as placental glutathio ne-S-transferase, oncofetal proteins, oncogene products, and typing of neoplasms. Immunohistochemistry is also used to detect the origin and function of various cell types in developmental and toxicity studies. Careful use of immunohistochemical procedures in conjunction with rou tine pathology and molecular techniques enhance the ability of the tox icologic pathologist to diagnose unique conditions and to understand m echanisms of lesion development.