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Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Quantitation of γH2AX Foci in Tissue Samples
Published on: June 28, 2010
GammaH2AX as a molecular marker of aging and disease
Li-Jeen Mah1, Assam El-Osta, Tom C Karagiannis
1Epigenomic Medicine, BakerIDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, The Alfred Medical Research and Education Precinct, Melbourne, VIC, AU.
Abstract:
Double-strand breaks are one of the most critical DNA lesions with respect to cell-death and preservation of genomic integrity. Rapid phosphorylation of the histone variant H2AX at Ser-139 to form gammaH2AX is an early cellular response to DNA double-strand breaks. Visualization of discrete gammaH2AX foci using immunofluorescence-based assays has provided a sensitive and effective method for detecting DSBs which may be implicated in various pathologies including cancer, age-related diseases, chronic inflammatory diseases and ischemia-reperfusion injury. In this review, the potential utility and significance of gammaH2AX as a molecular marker of aging and disease is analysed.

