Detection and quantification of cytoskeletal granules

Abstract

The cytoskeleton is a dynamic scaffolding maintaining cell stability and motility. Keratin filaments form cytoskeletal networks in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells. Genetic mutations of keratin genes have been implicated in human skin diseases, such as epidermolysis bullosa simplex. Keratin network organization is severely impaired in these instances resulting in the formation of prominent granular aggregates. To gain an understanding of the pathomechanisms underlying keratin granule formation and to screen for factors affecting this process, an automated segmentation routine of keratin granules is proposed in this paper. As such, the presented method holds a lot of potential for an objective assessment of keratin organization to improve treatment of genetic keratinopathies.