Current Methods and Pipelines for Image-Based Quantitation of Nuclear Shape and Nuclear Envelope Abnormalities

Any given cell type has an associated normal nuclear morphology, which is important to maintain proper cellular functioning and safeguard genomic integrity. Deviations from this can be indicative of diseases such as cancer or premature aging syndrome. To accurately assess nuclear abnormalities, it is important to use quantitative measures of nuclear morphology. Here, we give an overview of several nuclear abnormalities, including micronuclei, nuclear envelope invaginations, blebs and ruptures, and review the current methods used for image-based quantification of these abnormalities. We discuss several parameters that can be used to quantify nuclear shape and compare their outputs using example images. In addition, we present new pipelines for quantitative analysis of nuclear blebs and invaginations. Quantitative analyses of nuclear aberrations and shape will be important in a wide range of applications, from assessments of cancer cell anomalies to studies of nucleus deformability under mechanical or other types of stress.

Automated summary

Nuclear morphology abnormalities have significant impact on cellular functioning and genomic integrity, making quantitative measurement of nuclear shape crucial. This article provides an overview of various nuclear abnormalities and reviews current image-based quantification methods. New pipelines for quantitative analysis of nuclear shape are also introduced. Quantitative analyses of nuclear aberrations and shape have wide applications in assessing cancer cell anomalies and studying nucleus deformability under stress.