The gamma-H2AX Assay for Genotoxic and Nongenotoxic Agents: Comparisonof H2AX Phosphorylation with Cell Death Response.

<p>DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and blocked replication forks resulting from bulky adducts and inhibitors of replication activate the DNA damage response (DDR), a signaling pathway marked by phosphorylation of histone 2AX (H2AX). The phosphorylated form, gamma-H2AX, accumulates at the site of the damage and can be visualized as foci by immunocytochemistry. The objective of this study was to assess if gamma-H2AX is a reliable biomarker for genotoxic exposures. To this end, we selected 14 well-known genotoxic compounds and compared them with 10 nongenotoxic chemicals, using CHO-9 cells because they are well characterized as to DNA repair and DDR. We quantified gamma-H2AX foci manually and automatically. In addition, total gamma-H2AX activation was determined by flow cytometry. For all chemicals the cytotoxic dose response was assayed by a metabolic cytotoxicity assay. We show that (1) all genotoxic agents induced γH2AX dose-dependently whereas nongenotoxic agents do not; (2) gamma-H2AX was observed for genotoxicants in the cytotoxic dose range, revealing a correlation between cytotoxicity and gamma-H2AX for genotoxic agents; for nongenotoxic agents cytotoxicity was not related to gamma-H2AX; (3) manual scoring of gamma-H2AX and automated scoring provided comparable results, the automated scoring was faster and investigator independent; (4) data obtained by foci counting and flow cytometry showed a high correlation, suggesting that gamma-H2AX scoring by flow cytometry has the potential for high-throughput analysis. However, the microscopic evaluation can provide additional information as to foci size, distribution, colocalization and background staining; (5) gamma-H2AX foci were colocalized with 53BP1 and Rad51, supporting the notion that they represent true DSBs. Collectively, the automated analysis of gamma-H2AX foci allows for rapid determination of genetic damage in mammalian cells. The data revealed that the induction of gamma-H2AX by genotoxicants is related to loss of viability and support gamma-H2AX as a reliable bio-indicator for pretoxic DNA damage.</p>