The support of the Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering is acknowledged. TCK was the recipient of AINSE awards. Epigenomic Medicine Lab is supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (566559). LM is supported by Melbourne Research (University of Melbourne) and Biomedical Imaging CRC supplementary scholarships. The support of Monash Micro Imaging (Drs Stephen Cody and I&#347;ka Carmichael) was invaluable for this work. MMT is grateful for the expert assistance and advice from Dr Olga Sedelnikova from the National Institutes of Health.

Tissues
<ol>
 <li>Lung tissue, embedded in moulds in optimal cutting temperature (OCT) compound 4583, was sectioned (5 &mu;m) using a CM Leica 1950 cryostat and mounted onto poly-L-lysine slides.</li> 
</ol>
The frozen samples were obtained from Dr Simon Royce at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute. Lung tissue was obtained from untreated Balb/c mice and from a mouse model of chronic allergic airways disease which shows many of the pathological features of human asthma6. Experiments on animals were performed in accordance with the guidelines and regulations set forth by the Animal Ethics Committee of the Murdoch Children's Research Institute which adheres to the Australian Code of Practice for the care and use of laboratory animals for scientific purposes.
<ol start="2">
 <li>Sections were allowed to air dry at room temperature for 1 hour.</li> 
</ol>
Immunofluorescence staining
<ol>
	<li>Sections were fixed with 2% (w/v) paraformaldehyde in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) for 20 minutes.</li>
	 <li>Sections were equilibrated with two washes in PBS for 15 minutes each.</li> 
	 <li>Sections were treated with 70% ethanol (chilled to -20&deg;C) for 20 minutes followed by three washes in PBS for 10 minutes each.</li>
</ol>
At this point slides may be stored in sealed containers at 4&deg;C for up to 2 weeks.
<ol start="4">
	<li>Sections were washed three times with PBS for 10 minutes each and then blocked with 100&mu;L freshly prepared in PBS containing 8% BSA in PBS containing 0.5% Tween-20 and 0.1% Triton X-100 (PBS-TT) for 1 hr at room temperature. All incubations were performed in a humidified staining trough.</li>
	<li>Sections were washed with PBS-TT for 5 minutes and a hydrophobic perimeter was marked around the tissue with a Pap pen.</li>
	<li>Excess buffer was tipped off and 100&mu;l of primary rabbit polyclonal anti-&gamma;H2AX antibody (diluted 1:500, in 1% BSA in PBS; Millipore), was added to each section for a 2 hour incubation at room temperature. Incubation with primary antibody may be performed overnight at 4&deg;C. For further evidence, that &gamma;H2AX foci represent DSBs, a primary antibody recognising a DSB repair protein may also be used. For example, co-localization of &gamma;H2AX and phospho-ATM is a commonly used combination.</li>
	<li>Sections were washed two times in PBS-TT for 5 minutes each and incubated with 100&mu;l of secondary antibody (Alexa Fluor 488 goat anti-rabbit IgG diluted 1:500, in 1% BSA; Invitrogen) for 1 hour at room temperature in the dark. (Diluted antibody was kept in the dark throughout the procedure).</li>
	<li>Sections were washed three times with PBS-TT for 5 minutes each and incubated with 0.5mg/mL RNAse A for 30 mins at 37&deg;C.</li>
	<li>Nuclear counterstaining and mounting was performed with Vectashield medium containing propidium iodide.</li>
	<li>The slides were sealed with nail polish and stored overnight at 4&deg;C in the dark before analysis.</li>
</ol>
Microscopy / Analysis
<ol>
	<li>A Zeiss LSM510 Meta Confocal Microscope was used to acquire images using the standard GFP (for &gamma;H2AX - Alexa Fluor 488 goat anti-rabbit IgG) and PI (543 nm) lasers.</li>
</ol>
Images were acquired in a Z-series pattern with a step size of 0.5 &mu;m. During analysis, individual planes were deconvoluted and stacked to produce a maximum projected image to minimize the overlap of foci.
The method of creating a maximum projected image prior to a particle count should only be used in circumstances where a thin section (e.g. 5&mu;m) is used and where the background staining is insignificant. Where thicker sections with a significant background must be analyzed, a more complex analysis such as 3D Object Counter as described by Bolte and Cordelieres (2006) should be used7.
<ol start="2"> <li>Metamorph (Molecular Devices, USA) was used to create merged (red and green) images to quantitate numbers of foci.</li>
</ol>
Although Metamorph can be used to quantitate foci numbers, typically when using tissue sections foci are counted manually (by eye) for greater accuracy.
Specific cell types of interest can be selected for quantitation, for instance lung epithelial cells. This may be done based on histology and with reference to haematoxylin and eosin stained serial sections.

<ol>
	<li>Rogakou, E. P., Boon, C., Redon, C., Bonner, W. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Megabase+chromatin+domains+involved+in+DNA+double-strand+breaks+in+vivo.">Megabase chromatin domains involved in DNA double-strand breaks in vivo.</a> J. Cell Biol. 146, 905-916 (1999).</li><li>Bonner, W. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Gamma+H2AX+and+cancer.">Gamma H2AX and cancer.</a> Nature Reviews Cancer. 8 (12), 957-967 (2008).</li><li>Dickey, J. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=H2AX:+functional+roles+and+potential+applications.">H2AX: functional roles and potential applications.</a> Chromosoma. 118 (6), 683-692 (2009).</li><li>Bhogal, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Late+residual+gamma-H2AX+foci+in+murine+skin+are+dose+responsive+and+predict+radiosensitivity+in+vivo.">Late residual gamma-H2AX foci in murine skin are dose responsive and predict radiosensitivity in vivo.</a> Radiat Res. 173 (1), 1-9 (2010).</li><li>Redon, C. E., Dickey, J. S., Bonner, W. M., Sedelnikova, O. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=gamma-H2AX+as+a+biomarker+of+DNA+damage+induced+by+ionizing+radiation+in+human+peripheral+blood+lymphocytes+and+artificial+skin.">gamma-H2AX as a biomarker of DNA damage induced by ionizing radiation in human peripheral blood lymphocytes and artificial skin.</a> Adv Space Res. 43 (8), 1171-1178 (2009).</li><li>Locke, N. R., Royce, S. G., Wainewright, J. S., Samuel, C. S., Tang, M. L., L, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Comparison+of+airway+remodeling+in+acute,+subacute,+and+chronic+models+of+allergic+airways+disease.">Comparison of airway remodeling in acute, subacute, and chronic models of allergic airways disease.</a> Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 36 (5), 625-632 (2007).</li><li>Bolte, S. &. a. m. p. ;. a. m. p., Cordelieres, F. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+guided+tour+into+subcellular+colocalization+analysis+in+light+microscopy.">A guided tour into subcellular colocalization analysis in light microscopy.</a> J Microsc. 224 (Pt 3), 213-232 (2006).</li></ol>

No conflicts of interest declared.

For the purpose of this demonstration we used mouse lung tissue from untreated Balb/c mice and from a mouse model of chronic allergic airways disease. We quantitated differences in the number of foci per cell with slightly higher averages observed in the damaged lung compared to untreated sections. Specifically, quantitation indicated 6.5 foci per/cell and 9.4 foci per/cell (manual counting of 20 cells per section), in the untreated tissue and chronic allergic airways disease tissue, respectively. However, the use of a D...

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		<div>
		<table border="1">
		<thead>
		<tr>
		<th>Material Name</th>
		<th>Type</th>
		<th>Company</th>
		<th>Catalogue Number</th>
		<th>Comment</th>
		</tr>
		</thead>
		<tbody>
		
<tr>
<td>Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA)</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
<td>A7906</td>
<td>BSA (1%) is used to block any non-specific antibody binding. Primary and secondary antibodies are diluted in BSA.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PBS (without Ca2+ and Mg2+)</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Invitrogen</td>
<td>17-517Q</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Optimal Cutting Temperature (OCT) Compound 4583</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Tissue-Tek</td>
<td>4583</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Superfrost Plus</td>
<td>Polysine slides</td>
<td>Menzel-Gl&auml;ser, Germany</td>
<td>SF41296SP</td>
<td>Electrostatically attracts frozen tissue sections and reduces the need for additional coatings and adhesives.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tween 20</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Calbiochem</td>
<td>655205</td>
<td>Tween 20 (0.5%), is a detergent to permeabilise cells</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Triton X-100</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
<td>T8787</td>
<td>Triton X-100 (0.1%) used to permeabilise cells.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Paraformaldehyde</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
<td>158127</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Anti-phospho-&gamma;H2AX (rabbit polyclonal antibody)</td>
<td>Primary Antibody</td>
<td>Upstate, USA</td>
<td>07-164</td>
<td>Dilution of primary antibody (1:500), in 1% BSA.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alexa Fluor 488 goat anti-rabbit IgG (H+L)</td>
<td>Secondary Antibody</td>
<td>Invitrogen</td>
<td>A-11008</td>
<td>Dilution of secondary antibody (1:500), in 1% BSA.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ethanol (70%)</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
<td>BSPEL316</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>RNAse A</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Qiagen </td>
<td>19101</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Vectashield PI</td>
<td>Reagent</td>
<td>Vector Laboratories</td>
<td>H-1300</td>
<td>A glycerol based mounting medium containing propidium iodide (a red nuclear stain).This medium must be used with an oil based lense that matches its refractive index. 
Note: DNA stain commonly used: 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI). Can only be used with microscopes with the appropriate excitation laser.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mini PAP Pen</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Invitrogen, USA</td>
<td>008877</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Coverslips (22x50mm)</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Menzel-Gl&auml;ser, Germany</td>
<td>CS2250100</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Coplin Jar, glass</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Grale Scientific P/L</td>
<td>1771-OG</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Staining Trough</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Grale Scientific P/L</td>
<td>V1991.99</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Zeiss LSM 510 Meta Confocal</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Confocal Microscope</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>CM Leica 1950 Cryostat</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Leica Microsystems</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Metamorph</td>
<td>Software for Imaging analysis</td>
<td>Molecular Devices, USA</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>		</tbody>
		</table>
		</div>

quantitation of &gamma;h2ax foci in tissue samples

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are particularly lethal and genotoxic lesions, that can arise either by endogenous (physiological or pathological) processes or by exogenous factors, particularly ionizing radiation and radiomimetic compounds. Phosphorylation of the H2A histone variant, H2AX, at the serine-139 residue, in the highly conserved C-terminal SQEY motif, forming &gamma;H2AX, is an early response to DNA double-strand breaks1. This phosphorylation event is mediated by the phosphatidyl-inosito 3-kinase (PI3K) family of proteins, ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM), DNA-protein kinase catalytic subunit and ATM and RAD3-related (ATR)2. Overall, DSB induction results in the formation of discrete nuclear &gamma;H2AX foci which can be easily detected and quantitated by immunofluorescence microscopy2. Given the unique specificity and sensitivity of this marker, analysis of &gamma;H2AX foci has led to a wide range of applications in biomedical research, particularly in radiation biology and nuclear medicine. The quantitation of &gamma;H2AX foci has been most widely investigated in cell culture systems in the context of ionizing radiation-induced DSBs. Apart from cellular radiosensitivity, immunofluorescence based assays have also been used to evaluate the efficacy of radiation-modifying compounds. In addition, &gamma;H2AX has been used as a molecular marker to examine the efficacy of various DSB-inducing compounds and is recently being heralded as important marker of ageing and disease, particularly cancer3. Further, immunofluorescence-based methods have been adapted to suit detection and quantitation of &gamma;H2AX foci ex vivo and in vivo4,5. Here, we demonstrate a typical immunofluorescence method for detection and quantitation of &gamma;H2AX foci in mouse tissues.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Quantitation of Î³H2AX Foci in Tissue Samples at JoVE.com

Quantitation of &amp;#947;H2AX Foci in Tissue Samples

Quantitation of DNA double-strand breaks on the basis of &gamma;H2AX foci has become an invaluable tool, particularly in radiation biology, for the evaluation of tissue radiosensitivity and effects of radiation modifying compounds. Here we demonstrate the use of an immunofluorescence assay for quantitation of &gamma;H2AX foci in tissue samples.

Quantitation of &gamma;H2AX Foci in Tissue Samples

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are particularly lethal and genotoxic lesions, that can arise either by endogenous (physiological or pathological) ...

quantitation-of-h2ax-foci-in-tissue-samples

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14.3K Views.  The Alfred Medical Research and Education Precinct. Quantitation of DNA double-strand breaks on the basis of γH2AX foci has become an invaluable tool, particularly in radiation biology, for the evaluation of tissue radiosensitivity and effects of radiation modifying compounds. Here we demonstrate the use of an immunofluorescence assay for quantitation of γH2AX foci in tissue samples.