Amyloid

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Amyloid describes various types of protein aggregations that share specific traits when examined microscopically. The name amyloid comes from the fact the substance has staining characteristics to starch (amylum in Latin).

Table of contents

1 Diseases that feature amyloid deposition
2 Histological staining for amyloid
3 External links

Diseases that feature amyloid deposition

Systemic amyloidosis
- Primary amyloidosis
  - Mutations in lysozyme, transthyretin, Apolipoprotein B
- Secondary amyloidosis
  - AA amyloidosis (acute phase proteins due to chronic inflammation)
  - AL amyloidosis (immunoglobulin light chains)
Organ-specific amyloidosis
- Gastroenterology
  - Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency
- Neurology
  - Alzheimer's disease
  - Spongiform encephalopathies

Histological staining for amyloid

Because of its amorphous nature, amyloid can be difficult to see with usual histology stains such as haematoxylin and eosin. The dawn of antibody technology and immunohistochemistry has made specific staining easier, but the reagents used can be expensive and difficult to find.

One characteristic of amyloid is that it is birefringent under polarised light. Amyloid will appear apple-green and yellow, depending on the direction the protein aggregates are orientated. Rotating the plane of polarisation will turn the yellow parts green, and the green parts yellow.

External links

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