γH2AX, an Accurate Marker That Analyzes UV Genotoxic Effects on Human Keratinocytes and on Human Skin

The phosphorylated form of histone H2AX, gamma H2AX, is a component of the DNA repair system. Most studies have focused on the role of gamma H2AX during cell transformation and human cancer, but little is known about its role in keratinocytes and the skin during UV irradiation. We analyzed the response to UV irradiation focusing on the phosphorylation of histone H2AX both in vitro, in keratinocyte cultures and in artificial epidermis, and then in vivo, in human skin. Acute UVB irradiation of human keratinocytes increased the phosphorylation of H2AX in a dose-dependent manner; two types of gamma H2AX response were observed either in vitro or in vivo. After a low nonapoptotic UVB irradiation, cells contained phosphorylated H2AX and arrested their cell cycle to repair the DNA damages. For a stronger and proapoptotic UVB irradiation, keratinocytes dramatically increased the phosphorylation of H2AX and committed apoptosis. Our results indicate that gamma H2AX constitutes a highly sensitive marker relevant for studying subapoptotic doses as well as proapoptotic doses of UVB in human skin.