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ABCC2 / ATP-binding cassette sub-family C member 2 · IHC design guide
Design Immunohistochemistry for ABCC2
Plan ABCC2 IHC in paraffin sections using the observed membranous staining in hepatocytes and kidney proximal tubules as a reference (HPA tissue IHC). This guide covers fixation consistency, antibody dilution, chromogenic detection and assessment of expected apical staining (UniProt).
Evidence assembled Oct 2026 · For research use; verify linked source records and product datasheet before use
ABCC2 Immunohistochemistry Experimental Design Guide
Expected localisation, validated protocols, controls and antibodies — the at-a-glance facts below, then the full design guide.
Must know before staining
| Expected localisation | Membranous staining observed; apical location expected (HPA tissue IHC; UniProt) | |
| Staining pattern | Membranous in hepatocytes, proximal tubules and enterocytes (HPA tissue IHC) | |
| Antigen retrieval | EDTA pH 8.0 HIER, heat-mediated (datasheet A00974-1) | |
| Positive control | Kidney+4 more · see all | |
| Negative control | Adipose tissue+4 more · see all |
Important caveats
Reasons your staining may differ from the expected pattern.
| Fixation | Keep fixation consistent across paraffin sections (standard IHC practice; not target-specific) | |
| Caveat | Endogenous peroxidase may confound liver DAB staining (standard IHC practice) | |
| Regulation | No specific staining regulation reported (UniProt) | |
| Isoform / epitope | No isoforms reported; extracellular versus cytoplasmic epitope matters (UniProt) |
Section 1
Recommended ABCC2 IHC & IF Protocols
Compare the catalog antibody’s IHC-P protocol (datasheet A00974-1) with the published papillary renal cell carcinoma protocol (PMC12805615).
| Sample | Paraffin-embedded human liver cancer tissue; fixative not specified (datasheet A00974-1) |
| Fixation | Image fixative and duration unreported (datasheet A00974-1); verify before use. |
| Sectioning | 4–5 µm sections on charged slides (standard) |
| Deparaffinisation | Xylene, graded ethanol series to water (standard) |
| Antigen retrieval | Heat retrieval: EDTA pH 8.0 (datasheet A00974-1); 20 min, 95–100 °C (standard) |
| Peroxidase block | 3% H2O2, 10 min, room temperature (standard) |
| Blocking | 10% goat serum (datasheet A00974-1) |
| Primary antibody | Rabbit anti-ABCC2, 2-5μg/ml (datasheet A00974-1) |
| Primary incubation | Overnight at 4 °C (datasheet A00974-1) |
| Detection | HRP-conjugated secondary, DAB chromogen (datasheet A00974-1) |
| Counterstain | Hematoxylin, blue, dehydrate and mount (standard) |
| Expected result | ABCC2-positive staining in proximal tubules (microvilli) of kidney (HPA tissue IHC: High). HPA tissue profile: High membranous expression in liver, kidney, gallbladder and intestines. No signal in the no-primary control. |
💡Decision noteStart with heat-mediated EDTA retrieval at pH 8.0 (datasheet A00974-1); the published protocol does not specify retrieval (PMC12805615).
Section 2
What Is the Expected ABCC2 Staining Pattern?
ABCC2 is a 17-pass protein of the apical cell membrane (UniProt Q92887 topology). In paraffin-section IHC, expect staining along hepatocyte canalicular membranes and the microvilli of kidney proximal tubules and intestinal enterocytes (HPA: High in hepatocytes and proximal-tubule microvilli; Medium in enterocyte microvilli). HPA rates its tissue IHC profile Enhanced, citing consistency between staining and RNA expression (HPA: reliability description).
| Crisp canalicular staining between hepatocytes, or a narrow luminal rim on proximal tubules; little cytoplasmic color. | This fits apical localisation in polarized cells (UniProt Q92887: subcellular location and function). Hepatocytes and proximal-tubule microvilli are High in HPA tissue IHC (HPA: liver; kidney). Judge the membrane pattern as well as intensity. |
| Enterocytes show a defined microvillar border; gallbladder or salivary glandular cells also stain. | Enterocyte microvilli are Medium in duodenum and small intestine; gallbladder and salivary glandular cells are also Medium (HPA: tissue IHC). A moderate signal in these listed cells can fit the reference profile. |
| Strong nuclear color, broad cytoplasmic color, or staining spread across the whole membrane replaces an apical rim. | These patterns do not match the annotated apical membrane location (UniProt Q92887: subcellular location). Treat them as suspect and compare with tissue morphology and controls; their appearance alone does not identify the artefact's cause (general IHC interpretation). |
| Prominent color appears in adipocytes, respiratory epithelial cells, or bone-marrow hematopoietic cells. | HPA reports Not detected in those specific cell populations (HPA: adipose tissue; bronchus; bone marrow). Check antibody specificity and chromogen-only or no-primary controls; other cells in those tissues are not covered by these entries (general IHC interpretation). |
| Color is diffuse across tissue or appears in the no-primary control; a known-positive section has no signal. | Diffuse or control-positive color points to background or detection activity (general IHC practice). No signal in liver hepatocytes or proximal-tubule microvilli conflicts with their High HPA staining, but does not by itself establish target absence (HPA: liver; kidney). |
💡Expected ABCC2 appearanceA convincing positive is a distinct High canalicular or proximal-tubule microvillar rim, with a Medium enterocyte microvillar rim also expected; strong nuclear or diffuse staining is suspect (HPA: liver, kidney, intestines; UniProt Q92887: apical membrane).
| Cell polarity and compartment | ABCC2 is annotated at apical membranes of polarized liver, renal, and intestinal cells (UniProt Q92887: subcellular location and function). Interpret a luminal or canalicular edge in its tissue context; overall brown color alone cannot establish the expected location (general IHC interpretation). |
| Antibody epitope and topology | ABCC2 has 17 transmembrane segments with extracellular and cytoplasmic regions (UniProt Q92887 topology). Epitope location for the IHC-validated antibody is not supplied, so this record cannot predict whether a particular retrieval or permeabilisation choice will expose it. |
| Reference evidence and detection system | HPA assigns the tissue pattern Enhanced reliability and lists HPA071145 as IHC Enhanced (HPA: tissue IHC; antibody validation). This supports pattern comparison, but does not establish target-specific fixation sensitivity or exclude background from a chromogenic detection system (general IHC practice). |
| Situation | Likely cause | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| No staining in liver or kidney positive control | A failed IHC step is possible; HPA instead reports High hepatocyte and proximal-tubule microvillar staining (HPA: liver; kidney). | Check section integrity, retrieval, antibody incubation and detection controls using the chosen IHC workflow (general IHC practice). Do not infer a specific ABCC2 fixation effect from this result. |
| Positive tissue stains diffusely rather than at its luminal edge | Nonspecific background or loss of spatial definition is possible (general IHC interpretation); the expected location is apical (UniProt Q92887: subcellular location). | Compare adjacent morphology and a no-primary control; review blocking, washes and detection conditions (general IHC practice). Score a crisp canalicular or microvillar rim separately from diffuse color. |
| Color persists when the primary antibody is omitted | Primary-independent signal can arise from endogenous detection activity or detection reagents (general chromogenic IHC practice). | Review the detection-system controls and, if using peroxidase chemistry, its endogenous-activity blocking step (general IHC practice). Reassess any apparent ABCC2 signal against that control. |
| A supposedly negative cell population stains strongly | Cross-reactivity or background is possible when the signal conflicts with an HPA Not detected entry (HPA: adipocytes; respiratory epithelial cells; bone-marrow hematopoietic cells). | Confirm the cell type, inspect the no-primary control and compare the staining with an HPA-positive tissue on the same run (general IHC practice; HPA: liver; kidney). |
| An enterocyte sample is weaker than liver | That ranking can match the reference: enterocyte microvilli are Medium and hepatocytes are High (HPA: duodenum; small intestine; liver). | Check for an apical microvillar rim before calling the sample negative (UniProt Q92887: apical enterocyte membrane; HPA: enterocyte microvilli). Compare intensity only under matched staining conditions (general IHC practice). |
| What should IF/ICC show? | The HPA ICC-IF entry summarizes ABCC2 as Membrane but supplies no main location or cell-line images (HPA: subcellular ICC-IF). | Interpret a membrane signal in light of the apical annotation (UniProt Q92887: subcellular location). The supplied ICC-IF record cannot establish a cell-line pattern or an IF-specific staining protocol (HPA: subcellular ICC-IF). |
Experiment evidence
IHC & IF images showing ABCC2 staining
A00974-1 · IHCIHC analysis of MRP2/ABCC2 using anti-MRP2/ABCC2 antibody (A00974-1). MRP2/ABCC2 was detected in a paraffin-embedded section of human liver
A00974-1 · IHCIHC analysis of MRP2/ABCC2 using anti-MRP2/ABCC2 antibody (A00974-1). MRP2/ABCC2 was detected in a paraffin-embedded section of human liver
A00974 · IFICC staining MRP2 in HepG2 cells (green). The nuclear counter stain is DAPI (blue). Cells were fixed in paraformaldehyde, permeabilised with
HPA · Cerebral cortexHuman Protein Atlas IHC, Cerebral cortex. Source: https://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000023839-ABCC2/tissue/cerebral+cortex#imid_20991531
HPA · ColonHuman Protein Atlas IHC, Colon. Source: https://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000023839-ABCC2/tissue/colon#imid_20991457
HPA · LiverHuman Protein Atlas IHC, Liver. Source: https://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000023839-ABCC2/tissue/liver#imid_20991458
HPA · GallbladderHuman Protein Atlas IHC, Gallbladder. Source: https://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000023839-ABCC2/tissue/gallbladder#imid_20991434
← swipe / scroll for more images →
Real IHC / IF data behind the staining-pattern expectations in this section.
Sample controls for ABCC2 IHC & IF
🧪Run liver first: hepatocytes should show canalicular staining (HPA: High in hepatocytes; UniProt Q92887: apical membrane). Use adipose tissue as a negative tissue: adipocytes are not detected (HPA: Not detected in adipocytes); on the liver slide, nonhepatocyte cells should lack the specific canalicular pattern, though their background staining still needs assessment.
Positive control tissue: Kidney (Proximal tubules (microvilli), HPA High)
Negative control tissue: Adipose tissue (HPA Not detected)
ICC-IF cell lines (HPA subcellular resource): HPA carries no ICC-IF cell line for ABCC2; derive a cell-line control from the positive tissue's cell type (Proximal tubules (microvilli)) and confirm it by RNA or western blot first.
Technical controls: Include a no-primary (secondary-only) control, a concentration-matched rabbit IgG isotype control (selected-SKU caption: rabbit primary), and ABCC2-knockout tissue as a biological negative where available. For liver IHC, block endogenous peroxidase before HRP detection (selected-SKU caption: HRP/DAB); for liver IF, assess tissue autofluorescence with an unstained section (standard IHC/IF practice).
⚠️Feasibility: No target-specific fixation window or fixation effect is reported, and the selected-SKU paraffin-section caption does not state the fixative (selected-SKU caption: fixative unreported). That caption uses heat-mediated retrieval in EDTA at pH 8.0, but does not establish that retrieval is required (selected-SKU caption: EDTA retrieval). The supplied evidence does not establish whether frozen sections or IF are easier; liver pigment can complicate chromogenic interpretation, so compare staining with the no-primary control (standard IHC practice).
HPA tissue IHC evidence for ABCC2
Comprehensive Human Protein Atlas IHC scoring per tissue (reliability: Enhanced — High consistency between antibody staining and RNA expression data.). Rows are taken directly from the HPA tissue chart — click any row's HPA link to view the source.
Positive expression · recommended positive controls
| Tissue | Cell type | Level | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kidney | Proximal tubules (microvilli) | High | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Liver | Hepatocytes | High | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Duodenum | Enterocytes - Microvilli | Medium | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Gallbladder | Glandular cells | Medium | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Salivary gland | Glandular cells | Medium | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
Undetected expression · recommended negative controls
| Tissue | Cell type | Level | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adipose tissue | Adipocytes | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Adrenal gland | Glandular cells | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Appendix | Endocrine cells | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Bone marrow | Hematopoietic cells | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Breast | Adipocytes | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
Section 3
Advanced ABCC2 IHC Tips
Use the catalog antibody’s paraffin-section conditions as the starting point, then judge signal by ABCC2’s expected apical distribution (datasheet A00974-1; UniProt Q92887 localisation).
How should I optimize retrieval when ABCC2 staining is weak or diffuse?
Start with heat-mediated antigen retrieval in EDTA at pH 8.0 (datasheet A00974-1). Keep heating and cooling consistent across serial paraffin sections so differences in membrane staining can be compared fairly (standard IHC practice). Judge the result at hepatocyte canalicular membranes or proximal-tubule microvilli, where ABCC2 expression is expected (UniProt Q92887 localisation; HPA tissue IHC). ABCC2 has 17 transmembrane segments, but the antibody’s recognized epitope is not specified in the supplied evidence (UniProt Q92887 topology; datasheet A00974-1). If staining stays weak, titrate retrieval duration on matched sections before testing another buffer, selecting the condition that preserves morphology and apical contrast (standard IHC practice; UniProt Q92887 localisation).
Could fixation explain inconsistent ABCC2 staining between paraffin-section batches?
Target-specific fixation sensitivity is unknown: the A00974-1 paraffin-section caption does not report a fixative (datasheet A00974-1). Record each specimen’s actual fixative and fixation interval, and process comparison sections alike because fixation can alter epitope access and morphology (standard IHC practice). Begin with EDTA retrieval at pH 8.0 and 2 μg/ml primary antibody when evaluating this catalog antibody (datasheet A00974-1). If batches differ, compare matched sections under the same retrieval, incubation and detection conditions, then assess whether their documented fixation histories track the staining difference (standard IHC practice). Treat any such association as a workflow observation until a controlled fixation comparison establishes an ABCC2-specific effect (standard IHC practice).
Which staining pattern should count as correctly localized ABCC2?
Prioritize a polarized apical membrane pattern rather than a general cytoplasmic signal, because ABCC2 is annotated at the apical cell membrane (UniProt Q92887 localisation). In liver, assess hepatocyte canalicular borders; in kidney, inspect proximal-tubule microvilli (UniProt Q92887 function; HPA tissue IHC). Enterocyte microvilli provide another relevant reference, with medium staining reported in duodenum and small intestine (HPA tissue IHC). Compare these structures with adjacent tissue morphology and a counterstain before scoring, since a cut through a polarized surface can change how a membrane pattern appears (standard IHC practice). Score diffuse or basolateral staining separately from expected apical staining rather than combining them into one positive result (UniProt Q92887 localisation; standard IHC practice).
How should ABCC2 topology affect interpretation of an uncertain antibody epitope?
The supplied record annotates 0 isoforms; that annotation does not establish which sequence the catalog antibody recognizes (UniProt Q92887 isoforms; datasheet A00974-1). ABCC2 has 17 transmembrane segments and both extracellular and cytoplasmic regions, so epitope accessibility depends on the antibody’s binding site and section processing (UniProt Q92887 topology; standard IHC practice). Glycosylation is annotated at residues 7, 12 and 1011, while several serine phosphorylation sites are also annotated (UniProt Q92887 modifications). These features alone cannot explain a failed stain or identify the antibody epitope (UniProt Q92887 modifications; standard IHC practice). When specificity is uncertain, compare expected apical staining with suitable negative controls and seek epitope documentation for this antibody (UniProt Q92887 localisation; standard IHC practice).
How can IF help assess ABCC2 localization alongside chromogenic IHC?
Use IF as a complementary localization check alongside paraffin-section IHC, while treating the supplied A00974-1 caption as IHC evidence only (datasheet A00974-1). Multiplex ABCC2 with a marker identifying the expected hepatocyte, proximal-tubule or enterocyte population, and check whether its signal borders the appropriate apical surface (HPA tissue IHC; UniProt Q92887 localisation; standard IF practice). Choose a spectrally separated, preferably far-red fluorophore when tissue autofluorescence obscures shorter-wavelength channels, and include single-label controls (standard IF practice). Permeabilisation should match the antibody’s documented epitope side: a cytoplasmic epitope may require it, whereas an accessible extracellular epitope may not (UniProt Q92887 topology; standard IF practice). The supplied evidence does not identify that epitope side (datasheet A00974-1).
What should I check when the DAB signal spreads beyond apical membranes?
First compare the stained section with a no-primary control to assess secondary-antibody or detection-system background (standard IHC practice). The catalog caption reports 10% goat-serum blocking, 2 μg/ml primary antibody overnight at 4°C, and DAB development (datasheet A00974-1). A peroxidase block is a general chromogenic-IHC step to assess endogenous enzyme contribution; it is not ABCC2-specific evidence from that caption (standard IHC practice; datasheet A00974-1). Check wash consistency, primary concentration and DAB development time on matched sections if staining becomes widespread (standard IHC practice). Accept a result only when expected apical structures remain distinguishable from diffuse staining and control-section signal (UniProt Q92887 localisation; standard IHC practice).
How should I score ABCC2 when expression and membrane polarity vary? ⚠ ANSWER MARKED FOR VERIFICATION
Score the expected apical membrane compartment separately from cytoplasmic or other misplaced signal (UniProt Q92887 localisation; standard IHC practice). One approach is a membrane H-score: multiply each intensity category from 0–3 by its percentage of viable target cells, yielding 0–300 (standard IHC practice). Alternatively, report the percentage of positive hepatocytes or epithelial cells, or positive apical-membrane density per mm² of evaluable tissue (HPA tissue IHC; standard IHC practice). Normalize counts to the same viable cell population or evaluable tissue area, and keep thresholds and imaging conditions constant across sections (standard IHC practice). Report liver, kidney and intestinal compartments separately because their documented staining levels differ (HPA tissue IHC).
How can I distinguish true ABCC2 staining from section artefacts?
A convincing positive follows the apical pattern expected for ABCC2 in polarized cells and occurs in an appropriate cell population (UniProt Q92887 localisation; HPA tissue IHC). Hepatocyte canalicular staining or proximal-tubule microvillar staining is more consistent with the supplied expression evidence than diffuse signal in unrelated cells (UniProt Q92887 function; HPA tissue IHC). Examine section edges and necrotic areas for staining that follows tissue damage rather than cell boundaries (standard IHC practice). Use no-primary and peroxidase-block controls to investigate detection background and endogenous enzyme activity before calling an unusual pattern positive (standard IHC practice). Interpret altered distribution separately from expression intensity; chromogenic staining alone does not establish transporter activity (UniProt Q92887 function; standard IHC practice).
Boster reagents
Best ABCC2 / ATP-binding cassette sub-family C member 2 IHC Antibodies
Anti-ABCC2 options cover human paraffin-section IHC and ICC in HepG2 cells (A00974-1 IHC caption; A00974 ICC caption). The catalog includes an IHC image and an IF image (catalog figure tags).
Real IHC data
Anti-MRP2/ABCC2 Antibody ®
Cat # A00974-1
Real IF data
Anti-MRP2 ABCC2 Antibody
Cat # A00974
A00974-1 will render with IHC staining of a paraffin-embedded human liver cancer section; its caption does not report the fixative (A00974-1 IHC caption). A00974 will render with ICC staining of paraformaldehyde-fixed, Triton-permeabilised HepG2 cells, and lists human IHC and ICC applications (A00974 ICC caption; A00974 applications/reactivity).
Which to pick: Choose A00974-1 for paraffin-section IHC because its own image documents that preparation and an antibody concentration of 2 μg/ml; the fixative is unreported (A00974-1 IHC caption). Choose A00974 for IF/ICC because its own image shows staining in paraformaldehyde-fixed HepG2 cells after 0.25% Triton X100 permeabilisation (A00974 ICC caption). Neither is a supported cross-species choice: both list human reactivity, and neither has a reported clone (A00974 and A00974-1 catalog reactivity/clone fields).
Each figure is that product's own IHC / IF validation image from its datasheet.
References
- UniProt Consortium. UniProt entry Q92887 (MRP2_HUMAN, ATP-binding cassette sub-family C member 2).
- Human Protein Atlas. ABCC2 tissue IHC expression (reliability: Enhanced).
- Human Protein Atlas. ABCC2 subcellular location (ICC-IF): Membrane.
- Human Protein Atlas. ABCC2 antibody validation summary (1 antibodies).
- Concurrence of novel mutations causing Gilbert's and Dubin-Johnson syndrome with poor clinical outcomes in a Han Chinese family. Journal of human genetics 2023 — PMC9812767.
- Papillary renal neoplasm with reverse polarity is biologically and clinically distinct from eosinophilic papillary renal cell carcinoma. Pathology international 2024 — PMC11551816.
- Papillary renal cell carcinoma with high-ABCC2 shows an immune-evasive profile associated with favorable response to immunotherapy. The Journal of pathology 2026 — PMC12805615.
- Strain- and sex-dependent circadian changes in abcc2 transporter expression: implications for irinotecan chronotolerance in mouse ileum. PloS one 2011 — PMC3108586.
- PubMed PMID:8797578 — UniProt-cited evidence.
- PubMed PMID:8662992 — UniProt-cited evidence.
- PubMed PMID:10464142 — UniProt-cited evidence.
Immunohistochemistry protocol sheet for ABCC2 (ATP-binding cassette sub-family C member 2). Expected localisation Membranous staining observed; apical location expected (HPA tissue IHC; UniProt). Antigen retrieval: EDTA pH 8.0 HIER, heat-mediated (datasheet A00974-1). Validated IHC antibody: A00974-1 at 2-5μg/ml (the product's own IHC validation image is shown). Controls (HPA): positive Kidney (Proximal tubules (microvilli)); negative Adipose tissue. IHC-P workflow on paraffin sections; fixative unspecified. Protocol steps: 1. Sample: Paraffin-embedded human liver cancer tissue; fixative not specified (datasheet A00974-1); 2. Fixation: Image fixative and duration unreported (datasheet A00974-1); verify before use.; 3. Sectioning: 4–5 µm sections on charged slides (standard); 4. Deparaffinisation: Xylene, graded ethanol series to water (standard); 5. Antigen retrieval: Heat retrieval: EDTA pH 8.0 (datasheet A00974-1); 20 min, 95–100 °C (standard); 6. Peroxidase block: 3% H2O2, 10 min , room temperature (standard); 7. Blocking: 10% goat serum (datasheet A00974-1); 8. Primary antibody: Rabbit anti-ABCC2, 2-5μg/ml (datasheet A00974-1); 9. Primary incubation: Overnight at 4 °C (datasheet A00974-1). Watch for: Fixation: Keep fixation consistent across paraffin sections (standard IHC practice; not target-specific); Caveat: Endogenous peroxidase may confound liver DAB staining (standard IHC practice); Isoform / epitope: No isoforms reported; extracellular versus cytoplasmic epitope matters (UniProt); Regulation: No specific staining regulation reported (UniProt). Evidence: UniProt Q92887, HPA tissue IHC · Enhanced, HPA ICC-IF · Membrane, Datasheet A00974-1, PMC12805615. QR code links to https://www.bosterbio.com/bosterbio-gene-info-cards/ABCC2/immunohistochemistry-ihc-guide.