title: The use of neural networks and texture analysis for rapid objective selection of regions of interest in cytoskeletal images.
abstract: Understanding cytoskeletal dynamics in living tissue is prerequisite to understanding mechanisms of injury, mechanotransduction, and mechanical signaling. Real-time visualization is now possible using transfection with plasmids that encode fluorescent cytoskeletal proteins. Using this approach with the muscle-specific intermediate filament protein desmin, we found that a green fluorescent protein-desmin chimeric protein was unevenly distributed throughout the muscle fiber, resulting in some image areas that were saturated as well as others that lacked any signal. Our goal was to analyze the muscle fiber cytoskeletal network quantitatively in an unbiased fashion. To objectively select areas of the muscle fiber that are suitable for analysis, we devised a method that provides objective classification of regions of images of striated cytoskeletal structures into "usable" and "unusable" categories. This method consists of a combination of spatial analysis of the image using Fourier methods along with a boosted neural network that "decides" on the quality of the image based on previous training. We trained the neural network using the expert opinion of three scientists familiar with these types of images. We found that this method was over 300 times faster than manual classification and that it permitted objective and accurate classification of image regions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of California-San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0863, USA.
authors.forename: Amanda D Felder
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Derkacs
authors.forename: Samuel R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Lieber
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019677:Artificial Gene Fusion; D003584:Cytological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009132:Muscles / Q000166:cytology; D016571:Neural Networks, Computer; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins