Phosphorylation of the H2AX protein is an early step in the double strand break (DSB) repair pathway; therefore, phosphorylated histone (γH2AX) foci scoring is widely used as a measure for DSBs. Foci scoring is performed either manually or semi-automatically using hand-operated capturing and image analysis software. In general, both techniques are laborious and prone to artifacts associated wit...

BACKGROUND Although IARC clarifies radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) as possible human carcinogen, the debate on its health impact continues due to the inconsistent results. Genotoxic effect has been considered as a golden standard to determine if an environmental factor is a carcinogen, but the currently available data for RF-EMF remain controversial. As an environmental stimulus,...

Cells engage sophisticated programs of DNA damage response (DDR) and repair to guard against genetic mutations. Although there is significant knowledge concerning DDR in interphase cells, much less is known about these processes in mitosis. Direct interaction between MDC1, a master DDR organizer, and a marker of DNA damage, histone γH2AX, is required to trigger robust repair. Here we show that ...

BACKGROUND Differences in the incidence and type of DNA damage induced by antitumor agents for ovarian clear-cell carcinoma (CCC) were determined in two CCC cell lines, using γH2AX. MATERIALS AND METHODS The antitumor activity of gemcitabine (GEM) and carboplatin (CBDCA) were examined using cultured cell lines of CCC (OVISE and RMG-I). Each cell line was treated with GEM and CBDCA, the cells ...

In this study, we investigated whether DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We immunofluorescence-stained lung tissue samples obtained from COPD patients, asymptomatic smokers and nonsmokers for markers of DSBs. The numbers of DSB foci (phosphorylated histone 2AX (γH2AX), phosphorylated ATM (ataxia telangiectasia mutated...

We are interested in the induction and repair of DNA double strand breaks (dsb) after ionizing radiation using γH2AX as a marker. In addition to the widely applied fluorescence microscopy of immunostained γH2AX foci, we established the flow cytometric detection of γH2AX in our lab. The adaptation of the staining procedure with regard to trypsinization and centrifugation steps was described prev...

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are formed as a result of genotoxic insults, such as exogenous ionizing radiation, and are among the most serious types of DNA damage. One of the earliest molecular responses following DSB formation is the phosphorylation of the histone H2AX, giving rise to γH2AX. Many copies of γH2AX are generated at DSBs and can be detected in vitro as foci using well-establish...

BACKGROUND Roofers are at increased risk for various malignancies and their occupational exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been considered as important risk factors. The overall goal of this project was to investigate the usefulness of phosphorylated histone H2AX (γH2AX) as a short-term biomarker of DNA damage among roofers. METHODS Blood, urine, and dermal wipe sample...

In this issue of Clinical Cancer Research, Bañuelos and colleagues assess H2AX phosphorylation as a predictive biomarker of response to DNA damaging agents that cause double strand breaks (DSBs) (ref. 1). DSBs, where breaks in both strands of DNA occur in close vicinity, are especially lethal to replicating cells. This sensitivity has long been exploited in cancer therapy; radiotherapy and a wi...

Biomarker development is essential in the drug discovery field for effectiveness, toxicity, and optimization of doses when a drug is translated during pre-clinical to clinical trials. The present review highlights the prospective application of the γH2AX assay for pharmacological and toxicological evaluation in drug development. γH2AX is a phosphorylated form of H2AX protein belongs to the fami...