Ultrastructural immunogold localization of tumor necrosis factor-α to the cytoplasmic granules of rat peritoneal mast cells with rapid microwave fixation

Abstract

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a multifunctional, proinflammatory cytokine, which can be produced by mast cells and several other cell types. We used a newly developed microwave energy–assisted aldehyde fixation method to prepare purified rat peritoneal mast cells for the postembedding immunogold ultrastructural localization of TNF-α. These fixation methods were superior to chemical fixation alone in preserving both the ultrastructural morphology and immunoreactive TNF-α in rat mast cells. The percent of TNF-α–positive mast cells in samples prepared with microwave-assisted fixation in low (84%) and standard (81%) glutaraldehyde concentrations exceeded that for low (56%) and standard (15%) glutaraldehyde concentrations without the assistance of microwave energy. TNF-α was identified in the large storage granules of rat mast cells. The percent of positive granules in microwave-assisted standard (44%) and low (40%) glutaraldehyde samples was considerably higher than the percent of positive granules in standard (5%) and low (10%) glutaraldehyde-fixed samples without microwave assistance. This location of TNF-α in rat peritoneal mast cells suggests that this cytokine can use the regulated secretory route(s) for release from appropriately stimulated rat mast cells into the microenvironment. (J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUNOL 1994;94:531-6.)