IHC, Calponin Test

Basic calponin (calponin-h1) is a 34kD protein which exhibits a high degree of homology to acidic and neutral calponins at its N-terminal region. It is an actin, tropomyosin and calmodulin binding protein thought to be involved in the regulation of smooth muscle contraction. The expression of calponin is restricted to smooth muscle cells and is a marker of the differentiated contractile phenotype of developing smooth muscle. Vascular smooth muscle cells convert to a synthetic dedifferentiated phenotype when this protein is lost. It is thought that basic calponin exerts its effect via the cortical actin cytoskeleton. Basic calponin mRNA is expressed in smooth muscle of prostate, bowel and aorta whereas neutral and acidic calponin mRNAs are expressed in non-smooth muscle tissues such as heart, placenta, lung, kidney, pancreas, spleen, testis and ovary as well as in smooth muscle-containing tissues

The patient needs to be clearly informed on the type and location (tissue) of the sample that is extracted. The patient should be fairly intimated on the pain and severity when sample is collected. The slides used at the specimen should be fresh and neatly presented so that there are no glitches and provide accurate results in the report. The collected sample should not be kept under minimal temperatures and an optimum temperature zone is preferred. Stains are generally avoided over the slides, over the specimen and also on the samples collected.

Calponin [CALP] is a mouse monoclonal antibody that is intended for laboratory use in the qualitative identification of calponin protein by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) human tissues. Identify myoepithelial cells in breast lesions Help differentiate breast collagenous spherulosis (positive) from adenoid cystic carcinoma although adenoid cystic carcinoma is calponin positive in salivary gland tumors

Generally, the specimen used for the test is Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded block that is submitted in IHC transport kit. The Immunohistochemistry methodology is used in the IHC Calponin test where three unstained positively charged slides are used to collect the tissues. The patient’s epidermal tissue (generally found in the upper skin) is collected with the help broad unstained syringe. The tissues/cells collected over the positively charged slide needs to be taken at 3-5 microns thickness so that there equal coverage on the entire tissue/cell sample. The collected sample needs to shipped to a refrigerated zone or a frozen zone (summer months) and kept at minimal temperature where the actual process of test is continued.