Blotting method using nitrocellulose sheets for immunohistochemical detection of soluble thyroid antigens.

We introduce a new method for immunofluorescence detection of soluble material by blotting unfixed antigens onto nitrocellulose (NC) sheets. Human thyroid sections cut with a cryostat were mounted on NC sheets instead of glass slides and were air-dried. They were stained by immunofluorescence techniques, using autoantibodies to thyroid antigens obtained from 13 patients with chronic thyroiditis. The structures of the follicle lumen and epithelium were visualized by localization of specific antibodies. This tissue-blotting method sensitively detected soluble antigens, such as thyroglobulin, which are difficult to detect by conventional methods.