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HOXA10 / Homeobox protein Hox-A10 · IHC design guide
Design Immunohistochemistry for HOXA10
Plan HOXA10 paraffin-section IHC around the nuclear staining reported in several tissues (HPA tissue IHC). Use the tissue and cell examples to choose controls, while accounting for the reported low consistency between antibody staining and RNA expression (HPA tissue IHC).
Evidence assembled Oct 2026 · For research use; verify linked source records and product datasheet before use
HOXA10 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 | Nuclear staining observed in several tissues (HPA tissue IHC) | |
| Staining pattern | Nuclear staining in several tissue cell types (HPA tissue IHC) | |
| Antigen retrieval | Tris-EDTA pH 9.0 HIER, heat-mediated (datasheet A02288-1) | |
| Positive control | Breast+4 more · see all | |
| Negative control | Caudate+4 more · see all |
Important caveats
Reasons your staining may differ from the expected pattern.
| Fixation | Keep section fixation consistent. (standard IHC practice; not target-specific) | |
| Caveat | Staining has low consistency with RNA expression (HPA tissue IHC) | |
| Regulation | Expression regulation not annotated (UniProt) | |
| Isoform / epitope | Two isoforms; epitope coverage is unknown (UniProt) |
Section 1
Recommended HOXA10 IHC & IF Protocols
The catalog antibody protocol uses Tris-EDTA pH 9.0 heat retrieval (datasheet A02288-1). The published HOXA10 IHC protocols below provide four tissue-based alternatives (PMC6966495; PMC6745829; PMC8165781; PMC11622399).
| Sample | Paraffin-embedded human spleen tissue; fixative not specified (datasheet A02288-1) |
| Fixation | Image fixative and duration unreported (datasheet A02288-1); verify before use. |
| Sectioning | 4–5 µm sections on charged slides (standard) |
| Deparaffinisation | Xylene, graded ethanol series to water (standard) |
| Antigen retrieval | Heat retrieval: Tris-EDTA pH 9.0 (datasheet A02288-1); 20 min, 95–100 °C (standard) |
| Peroxidase block | 3% H2O2, 10 min, room temperature (standard) |
| Blocking | 10% normal serum of the secondary host, 30 min, room temperature (standard) |
| Primary antibody | Rabbit anti-HOXA10, 1:50 (datasheet A02288-1) |
| Primary incubation | Overnight at 4 °C (standard) |
| Detection | HRP-polymer secondary, DAB chromogen 5–10 min (standard) |
| Counterstain | Hematoxylin, blue, dehydrate and mount (standard) |
| Expected result | HOXA10-positive staining in adipocytes of breast (HPA tissue IHC: Medium). HPA tissue profile: Nuclear expression in several tissues. No signal in the no-primary control. |
💡Decision noteStart with Tris-EDTA pH 9.0 for the catalog antibody (datasheet A02288-1); assess citrate pH 6.0 as a published alternative (PMC6745829; PMC8165781).
Section 2
What Is the Expected HOXA10 Staining Pattern?
HOXA10 is a nuclear, sequence-specific transcription factor with no transmembrane segment (UniProt P31260: function, location, topology). In paraffin-section IHC, expect staining in nuclei of selected cells, including cervical glandular cells and endometrial stromal cells, both reported at medium intensity (HPA: tissue IHC). HPA describes nuclear staining in several tissues but rates its IHC profile “Approved” with low consistency between staining and RNA expression; interpret a positive field alongside cell identity and controls (HPA: tissue IHC reliability).
| Distinct nuclear chromogen in cervical glandular cells or endometrial stromal cells, with limited surrounding stain (HPA: Medium in both cell types). | This fits the reported cell distribution and nuclear profile (HPA: tissue IHC). Judge intensity relative to controls: “Medium” is an HPA observation, not a required numeric score or a guarantee for every specimen (HPA: tissue IHC). |
| Predominantly cytoplasmic, membranous, or extracellular chromogen instead of nuclear staining (UniProt P31260: nucleus; HPA: nuclear tissue profile). | Treat this as discordant localization and investigate nonspecific binding or detection artefact before assigning HOXA10 positivity (UniProt P31260: nucleus; HPA: nuclear tissue profile). |
| Strong signal in a cell population HPA reports as not detected, such as fallopian-tube glandular cells (HPA: Not detected in fallopian-tube glandular cells). | Check cell identification, primary-antibody specificity, and endogenous detection activity. A discrepancy raises concern for cross-reactivity or artefact; HPA’s tissue observations alone cannot establish the cause (HPA: tissue IHC; standard IHC practice). |
| Diffuse color across tissue, stroma, and blank areas with little nuclear contrast (HPA: expected nuclear tissue profile). | Do not score diffuse color as HOXA10. Check the no-primary control, blocking, washes, and detection chemistry to locate background sources (standard IHC practice); assess nuclear signal separately (HPA: tissue IHC). |
| No convincing nuclear signal in a section containing cervical glandular cells or endometrial stromal cells (HPA: Medium in these cell types). | An absent result conflicts with those HPA examples but does not prove absent HOXA10 in the specimen. Review tissue identity, run controls, and inspect the antibody’s IHC-P conditions before interpreting a negative (HPA: tissue IHC; standard IHC practice). |
💡Expected HOXA10 appearanceCall a result positive when identifiable cervical glandular or endometrial stromal cells show distinct, approximately medium nuclear staining (HPA: tissue IHC); broad cytoplasmic or diffuse color without nuclear definition is suspect (UniProt P31260: nucleus; HPA: nuclear tissue profile).
| Tissue and cell context | HPA reports medium staining in several cell types, including cervical glandular cells, and no detection in fallopian-tube glandular cells; a glandular label alone does not predict positivity (HPA: tissue IHC). |
| IHC antibody evidence | CAB019384 has an IHC “Approved” designation; HPA071918 has no IHC designation in the supplied record. Neither entry is marked IHC “Enhanced” (HPA: antibody validation). |
| Isoforms and epitope coverage | UniProt lists two HOXA10 isoforms, but the supplied record gives no antibody epitope or isoform-detection data; do not infer that a stain detects both (UniProt P31260: isoforms; HPA: antibody record). |
| IF/ICC: where should signal appear? | Mainly in nucleoplasm, with additional nuclear bodies (HPA: supported ICC-IF localization). That cell-image observation supports a nuclear expectation but does not set an IHC-P protocol (HPA: ICC-IF; HPA: tissue IHC). |
| Fixation sensitivity | Target-specific fixation sensitivity is unreported in the supplied UniProt and HPA records; these data do not predict a retrieval condition or a fixation-driven change in staining (UniProt P31260; HPA: tissue IHC). |
| Situation | Likely cause | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| No staining in an HPA medium-positive cell population (HPA: cervical glandular or endometrial stromal cells). | The stain may have failed, or the sampled cells may differ from the HPA examples; the cause cannot be assigned from HPA intensity alone (HPA: tissue IHC). | Confirm cell identity and positive-control performance, then review the IHC-validated antibody’s stated retrieval and dilution conditions (standard IHC practice; HPA: antibody validation). |
| Signal is mainly cytoplasmic or membranous (UniProt P31260: nucleus; HPA: nuclear tissue profile). | The compartment conflicts with the supplied localization evidence; nonspecific binding or detection artefact is possible (UniProt P31260; HPA: tissue IHC). | Compare the no-primary control and repeat with the IHC-validated antibody under its documented IHC-P conditions before scoring nuclear positivity (standard IHC practice; HPA: antibody validation). |
| Chromogen appears in an HPA not-detected cell type (HPA: fallopian-tube glandular cells, Not detected). | Cell misidentification, cross-reactivity, or endogenous detection activity may explain the discrepancy; HPA does not distinguish these causes (HPA: tissue IHC; standard IHC practice). | Recheck morphology and compare no-primary and detection controls; score only interpretable cellular staining (standard IHC practice). |
| Diffuse tissue color obscures nuclei (HPA: expected nuclear tissue profile). | Background can arise from incomplete blocking, washing, or detection-system controls (standard IHC practice). | Check no-primary background, blocking, washes, and chromogen development; repeat until nuclei can be assessed separately from background (standard IHC practice). |
| Nuclear signal is weak in a cell type HPA lists as low, such as skeletal-muscle myocytes (HPA: Low). | Low reported staining offers less visual separation from background; weak color alone is inconclusive (HPA: tissue IHC; standard IHC practice). | Compare a documented medium-positive cell population and the negative control on the same run before calling the weak field negative or positive (HPA: tissue IHC; standard IHC practice). |
| Different antibodies yield different IHC patterns (HPA: CAB019384 IHC Approved; HPA071918 no IHC designation). | The supplied validation statuses differ, and epitope coverage is unspecified; the records do not identify which discrepancy is biological (HPA: antibody validation; UniProt P31260: isoforms). | Prioritize the IHC-validated antibody, verify its documented conditions, and compare cell-specific nuclear staining with controls (HPA: antibody validation; standard IHC practice). |
Experiment evidence
IHC & IF images showing HOXA10 staining
A02288-1 · IHCImmunohistochemical analysis of paraffin-embedded human spleen. 1, Tris-EDTA, pH9.0 was used for antigen retrieval. 2 Antibody was diluted a
HPA · Cerebral cortexHuman Protein Atlas IHC, Cerebral cortex. Source: https://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000253293-HOXA10/tissue/cerebral+cortex#imid_18864803
HPA · ColonHuman Protein Atlas IHC, Colon. Source: https://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000253293-HOXA10/tissue/colon#imid_18864745
HPA · LiverHuman Protein Atlas IHC, Liver. Source: https://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000253293-HOXA10/tissue/liver#imid_18864738
HPA · KidneyHuman Protein Atlas IHC, Kidney. Source: https://www.proteinatlas.org/ENSG00000253293-HOXA10/tissue/kidney#imid_18864739
HPA · ICC-IF A-431Human Protein Atlas immunofluorescence, A-431, antibody CAB019384; green = HOXA10, blue = nucleus, red = microtubules.
HPA · ICC-IF A-431Human Protein Atlas immunofluorescence, A-431, antibody CAB019384; green = HOXA10, blue = nucleus, red = microtubules.
← swipe / scroll for more images →
Real IHC / IF data behind the staining-pattern expectations in this section.
Sample controls for HOXA10 IHC & IF
🧪Run endometrium first and score nuclear staining in cells of the endometrial stroma (HPA: Medium in cells in endometrial stroma; UniProt P31260: nucleus). Use duodenal glandular cells as a negative tissue comparator (HPA: Not detected in duodenal glandular cells). On the positive slide, internal negative cells should lack specific nuclear signal; do not presume a particular endometrial cell type is negative from the supplied HPA row.
Positive control tissue: Breast (Adipocytes, HPA Medium)
Negative control tissue: Caudate (HPA Not detected)
ICC-IF cell lines (HPA subcellular resource): HPA ICC-IF images show HOXA10 in A-431, U-251MG, U2OS, HEK293, THP-1, with annotated localisation: Nucleoplasm (supported) (HPA subcellular).
Technical controls: Include a no-primary, secondary-only control, an isotype control matched to the primary antibody’s host species and clonality, and a HOXA10 knockout biological negative where available (standard IHC practice). Quench endogenous peroxidase and inspect unstained endometrial tissue for background before interpreting chromogenic signal (standard chromogenic IHC practice).
⚠️Feasibility: A target-specific fixation window or fixation effect is unreported, and the fixative in the selected A02288-1 paraffin-section caption is unreported (selected SKU tissue-IHC caption). That caption uses Tris-EDTA at pH 9.0 for retrieval and primary antibody at 1:200 in spleen; these conditions require checking in endometrium (selected SKU tissue-IHC caption). Neither frozen sections nor IF are established as easier by the supplied evidence; for IF/ICC, assess nucleoplasmic signal with possible nuclear bodies and check tissue autofluorescence (HPA subcellular: nucleoplasm and nuclear bodies; standard IF practice).
HPA tissue IHC evidence for HOXA10
Comprehensive Human Protein Atlas IHC scoring per tissue (reliability: Approved — Low 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breast | Adipocytes | Medium | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Bronchus | Respiratory epithelial cells | Medium | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Cervix | Glandular cells | Medium | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Colon | Glandular cells | Medium | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Endometrium | Cells in endometrial stroma | Medium | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
Undetected expression · recommended negative controls
| Tissue | Cell type | Level | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caudate | Glial cells | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Cerebellum | Cells in granular layer | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Cerebral cortex | Endothelial cells | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Duodenum | Glandular cells | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
| Esophagus | Squamous epithelial cells | Not detected | Protein (IHC) | HPA → |
Section 3
Advanced HOXA10 IHC Tips
Troubleshooting guidance for chromogenic HOXA10 IHC on paraffin sections, with one Q&A on IF multiplexing.
How should I retrieve HOXA10 when nuclear staining is weak?
Use heat-mediated Tris-EDTA at pH 9.0 for HOXA10 retrieval in paraffin sections (datasheet A02288-1). The selected image used this retrieval before an antibody dilution of 1:200 and incubation at 4°C overnight (datasheet A02288-1). If nuclear staining remains weak, compare retrieval duration across matched sections while holding antibody dilution, incubation, and detection constant (standard IHC practice). Check tissue integrity and nuclear counterstain after heating, since excessive retrieval can damage morphology and make compartment scoring unreliable (standard IHC practice). Interpret any gain against a positive reference tissue and a negative control processed in the same run (standard IHC practice).
Can fixation explain variable HOXA10 staining between paraffin blocks?
Target-specific sensitivity of HOXA10 staining to fixation is unknown from the supplied evidence; the selected paraffin-section caption does not state a fixative (datasheet A02288-1). Record the fixative, time before fixation, fixation duration, and processing history for each block before comparing staining intensity (standard IHC practice). When troubleshooting, stain matched sections in one run with the same pH 9.0 retrieval and 1:200 primary dilution used for the selected image (datasheet A02288-1; standard IHC practice). Include a reference block with reproducible nuclear staining to separate a block-dependent result from a run-dependent result (HPA: nuclear expression in several tissues; standard IHC practice). Do not assign a specific fixation effect without a controlled comparison (standard IHC practice).
What staining pattern should count as HOXA10 positive?
Prioritize staining within intact nuclei: HOXA10 is annotated as nuclear, and tissue IHC shows nuclear expression across several tissues (UniProt P31260 subcellular location; HPA tissue IHC). Supported subcellular imaging places it mainly in the nucleoplasm, with additional nuclear-body localization (HPA subcellular). Score the cell population and compartment together; examples with medium tissue staining include endometrial stromal cells, cervical glandular cells, and bronchial respiratory epithelial cells (HPA tissue IHC). Compare the chromogen with a nuclear counterstain and exclude pigment or deposits that sit outside recognizable nuclei (standard IHC practice). Treat diffuse cytoplasmic signal as a troubleshooting finding requiring controls, rather than accepting it as the expected pattern (UniProt P31260 subcellular location; standard IHC practice).
Could isoforms or an unknown epitope explain discordant staining?
HOXA10 has 2 annotated isoforms, but the supplied product caption does not identify the antibody epitope or establish which isoforms it detects (UniProt P31260 isoforms; datasheet A02288-1). The annotated protein is a 410-residue chain without a signal peptide, propeptide, or transmembrane segment (UniProt P31260 processing and topology). Ask for an epitope map or validation data before treating a negative section as evidence that both isoforms are absent (standard IHC practice). If compatible materials are available, compare staining with an independently characterized antibody recognizing a different region, using matched retrieval and controls (standard IHC practice). Report the assay as HOXA10 immunoreactivity unless isoform recognition has been demonstrated (standard IHC practice).
How can IF help verify HOXA10 cell identity and nuclear localisation?
For a separate IF experiment, pair HOXA10 with a marker that identifies the expected cell population, such as the endometrial stromal or cervical glandular population being examined (HPA tissue IHC; standard IF practice). Select spectrally separated fluorophores and place the weaker signal in a channel with less tissue autofluorescence; inspect unstained tissue and single-label controls before interpreting overlap (standard IF practice). Because HOXA10 is nuclear and has no annotated transmembrane segment, choose permeabilisation that allows antibody access to the nucleus, then check that nuclear morphology is preserved (UniProt P31260 subcellular location and topology; standard IF practice). HPA subcellular imaging supports mainly nucleoplasmic signal with additional nuclear bodies, which provides a compartment check for IF images (HPA subcellular).
What should I check when chromogenic signal obscures HOXA10 nuclei?
Start with a no-primary control on the same tissue to reveal signal from detection reagents, endogenous enzyme activity, or deposited chromogen (standard IHC practice). For peroxidase-based detection, include a peroxidase block and assess whether DAB appears outside intact nuclei; these are general chromogenic workflow checks (standard IHC practice). The selected image used primary antibody at 1:200 overnight at 4°C and secondary antibody at 1:200 for 45 minutes at room temperature (datasheet A02288-1). If background rises under those conditions, titrate the primary and detection reagents while keeping retrieval and exposure comparable across sections (standard IHC practice). Judge improvements by preserved nuclear contrast, since nuclear HOXA10 is the expected compartment (UniProt P31260 subcellular location).
How should I quantify heterogeneous HOXA10 staining across tissue sections? ⚠ ANSWER MARKED FOR VERIFICATION
Define the anatomical region and eligible cell population before scoring, because reported HOXA10 staining varies by cell type within tissues (HPA tissue IHC; standard IHC practice). For nuclear staining, report the percentage of positive eligible nuclei and an intensity-weighted H-score on a 0–300 scale, with thresholds fixed before reviewing groups (standard IHC practice). If spatial abundance matters, report positive nuclei per mm² of analyzed tissue and exclude folds, necrosis, and missing tissue consistently (standard IHC practice). Normalize counts to eligible nuclei or analyzed area, and keep retrieval, chromogen development, imaging, and scoring settings consistent across cases (standard IHC practice). Include reference tissue across runs to monitor scoring drift (standard IHC practice).
How do I distinguish genuine HOXA10 staining from artefact?
Favor reproducible staining in intact nuclei of the cell population under study, consistent with the annotated nuclear location and tissue IHC profile (UniProt P31260 subcellular location; HPA tissue IHC). Check the expected cell type: HPA reports medium staining in endometrial stromal and cervical glandular cells, while several other sampled cell populations were not detected (HPA tissue IHC). Discount staining concentrated at section edges, in necrotic areas, or outside recognizable cells, and investigate signal retained in a no-primary control (standard IHC practice). Endogenous peroxidase can mimic DAB positivity, so verify the peroxidase block and compare matched controls (standard IHC practice). Interpret discordance cautiously because HPA labels the tissue staining approved while reporting low consistency with RNA expression (HPA tissue IHC).
Boster reagents
Best HOXA10 / Homeobox protein Hox-A10 IHC Antibodies
A02288-1 has an IHC image of paraffin-embedded human spleen (IHC image caption). IF is listed for this human- and mouse-reactive antibody, but no IF image is supplied (catalog applications/reactivity/IF image alts).
Real IHC data
Anti-Homeobox protein Hox-A10 HOXA10 Antibody
Cat # A02288-1
A02288-1 will render with an IHC figure from paraffin-embedded human spleen (IHC image caption). Its listed applications include IHC and IF, and its listed reactivity covers human and mouse; no IF figure is supplied (catalog applications/reactivity/IF image alts).
Which to pick: For tissue IHC, choose A02288-1: its own image caption documents paraffin-embedded human spleen, Tris-EDTA pH 9 retrieval and a 1:200 primary dilution; the fixative is unreported (IHC image caption). For IF, A02288-1 is listed at 1:50, but no IF image is supplied; ICC is not listed and requires local validation (catalog applications/if_dilution/IF image alts). For human or mouse samples, A02288-1 is a rabbit polyclonal with both species listed as reactive, although its IHC image shows human tissue only (catalog host/dilution_raw/reactivity; IHC image caption).
Each figure is that product's own IHC / IF validation image from its datasheet.
References
- UniProt Consortium. UniProt entry P31260 (HXA10_HUMAN, Homeobox protein Hox-A10).
- Human Protein Atlas. HOXA10 tissue IHC expression (reliability: Approved).
- Human Protein Atlas. HOXA10 subcellular location (ICC-IF): Mainly localized to the nucleoplasm. In addition localized to the nuclear bodies..
- Human Protein Atlas. HOXA10 antibody validation summary (2 antibodies).
- Increased Progesterone on the Day of Administration of hCG in Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation Affects the Expression of HOXA10 in Primates' Endometrial Receptivity. Biomedicines 2019 — PMC6966495.
- HOXA10 induces BCL2 expression, inhibits apoptosis, and promotes cell proliferation in gastric cancer. Cancer medicine 2019 — PMC6745829.
- Metformin reduces androgen receptor and upregulates homeobox A10 expression in uterine endometrium in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E 2021 — PMC8165781.
- Expression of HOXA10 and HOXA11 in the endometrium of infertile patients with chronic endometritis. JBRA assisted reproduction 2024 — PMC11622399.
- PubMed PMID:1676505 — UniProt-cited evidence.
- PubMed PMID:14702039 — UniProt-cited evidence.
- PubMed PMID:12853948 — UniProt-cited evidence.
Immunohistochemistry protocol sheet for HOXA10 (Homeobox protein Hox-A10). Expected localisation Nuclear staining observed in several tissues (HPA tissue IHC). Antigen retrieval: Tris-EDTA pH 9.0 HIER, heat-mediated (datasheet A02288-1). Validated IHC antibody: A02288-1 at 1:50 (the product's own IHC validation image is shown). Controls (HPA): positive Breast (Adipocytes); negative Caudate. IHC workflow; specimen preparation unspecified. Protocol steps: 1. Sample: Paraffin-embedded human spleen tissue; fixative not specified (datasheet A02288-1); 2. Fixation: Image fixative and duration unreported (datasheet A02288-1); 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: Tris-EDTA pH 9.0 (datasheet A02288-1); 20 min, 95–100 °C (standard); 6. Peroxidase block: 3% H2O2, 10 min , room temperature (standard); 7. Blocking: 10% normal serum of the secondary host, 30 min , room temperature (standard); 8. Primary antibody: Rabbit anti-HOXA10, 1:50 (datasheet A02288-1); 9. Primary incubation: Overnight at 4 °C (standard). Watch for: Fixation: Keep section fixation consistent. (standard IHC practice; not target-specific); Caveat: Staining has low consistency with RNA expression (HPA tissue IHC); Isoform / epitope: Two isoforms; epitope coverage is unknown (UniProt); Regulation: Expression regulation not annotated (UniProt). Evidence: UniProt P31260, HPA tissue IHC · Approved, HPA ICC-IF · Mainly localized to the nucleoplasm. In addition localized to the…, Datasheet A02288-1, PMC6966495, PMC6745829. QR code links to https://www.bosterbio.com/bosterbio-gene-info-cards/HOXA10/immunohistochemistry-ihc-guide.