Table 1 Analysis of immune changes in human post-mortem tissue

Human post-mortem tissue

- Genetic heterogeneity

- Age and gender

- Agonal status

- Co-morbidities

- Cause of death

- Post-mortem interval

Techniques

Fixed tissue

- Immunohistochemistry

○ Bright-field microscopy [23,49,60]

○ Fluorescent microscopy [23,49,60]

○ Combination of different markers [23,49,60]

Frozen tissue

- Genomics [39]

- Proteomics [74]

- RNA/DNA analysis [38,75,76]

- Primary culture [73]

- Flow cytometry [73]

Assessment

Qualitative

- Cell type

- Cell morphology

Quantitative

- Semi-quantitative rating system

- Number of cells per area or volume unit

- Protein load (percentage)

Immune functions

Inflammatory profile

- Pro- versus anti-inflammatory cytokines

- CD14, CD40, major histocompatibility complex II, arginase 1, chitinase, and TREM2

Phagocytosis

- Scavenger receptors (CD68 and CD36), TREM2, FcγRs CD14/TLR4, and phosphatidylserine receptors

Proliferation

- Ki67, PCNA, and phospho-histone H3

Immune cell infiltration

- Monocytes

○ CCR2 combined with CX3CR1

○ CD45, LyC6, and CD11c

- T cells

○ CD4 (T helper)

○ CD8 (T cytotoxic/suppressor)