Identification of parietal cells in gastric body mucosa with HMFG-2 monoclonal antibody.

AIMS To identify parietal cells in the upper gastrointestinal tract by an immunoperoxidase method, using commercially available monoclonal antibodies. METHODS Routine surgical biopsy specimens of gastric body mucosa were examined using the avidin-biotin peroxidase method with the monoclonal antibodies HMFG-1 and HMFG-2 to identify parietal cells. Double immunoperoxidase labelling with HK12.18, a well characterised monoclonal antibody directed against an epitope on the alpha (catalytic) subunit of H+ translocating, K+ stimulated adenosine triphosphatase (H,K-ATPase), was used to confirm that HMFG-1 and -2 stained parietal cells. RESULTS HMFG-1 and HMFG-2 showed consistent parietal cell staining patterns in the gastric body mucosa. HMFG-2 gave a more intense staining pattern of the secretory canaliculi. This was confirmed by double immunolabelling with HK12.18. CONCLUSIONS HMFG monoclonal antibodies are recommended as highly specific markers of human gastric parietal cells.