title: Quantitative image analysis of gamma-H2AX foci induced by ionizing radiation applying open source programs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test a CellProfiler pipeline for automated counting and characterization of gamma-H2AX foci in color images of human cultured cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  A431 cells were irradiated and stained for gamma-H2AX foci detection. Sets of color images were analyzed visually, and findings were compared with those using FociCounter and CellProfiler software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CellProfiler pipeline includes some proprieties not present in FociCounter, such as the automatic detection of nuclei, the detection of touching nuclei and the rejection of nuclei that touch the border of the image. The time required for manual operation is associated with the number of images analyzed visually or by FociCounter but not for the CellProfiler program. CellProfiler reduced manual operation time and is about 4 times faster than semiautomatic detection using FociCounter and 10 times faster than visual counting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that CellProfiler and FociCounter are reliable tools for measuring gamma-H2AX foci. However, CellProfiler overcomes the limitations of the FociCounter program and is able to detect nuclei automatically, saving considerable manual operation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Radiobiology, Center for Radiation Protection and Hygiene, and Office for Environmental Regulation and Nuclear Safety, Havana, Cuba. jorgee@cphr.edu.cu
authors.forename: Jorge Ernesto
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Manual
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Joan Francesc
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Barquinero
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valente
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roch-Lefèvre
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: García
mesh_terms: D002455:Cell Division / Q000528:radiation effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000502:physiology*; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D010338:Pathology, Clinical / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D012984:Software
chemical_list: C468783:H2AX protein, human; D006657:Histones