Fluctuation of Information Entropy Measures in Cell Image

Abstract

A simple, label-free cytometry technique is introduced. It is based on the analysis of the fluctuation of image Gray Level Information Entropy (GLIE) which is shown to reflect intracellular biophysical properties like generalized entropy. In this study, the analytical relations between cellular thermodynamic generalized entropy and diffusivity and GLIE fluctuation measures are explored for the first time. The standard deviation (SD) of GLIE is shown by experiments, simulation and theoretical analysis to be indifferent to microscope system "noise". Then, the ability of GLIE fluctuation measures to reflect basic cellular entropy conditions of early death and malignancy is demonstrated in a cell model of human, healthy-donor lymphocytes, malignant Jurkat cells, as well as dead lymphocytes and Jurkat cells. Utilization of GLIE-based fluctuation measures seems to have the advantage of displaying biophysical characterization of the tested cells, like diffusivity and entropy, in a novel, unique, simple and illustrative way.

ATP-Dependent Diffusion Entropy and Homogeneity in Living Cells

“…This enables live cells to have efficient intracellular motion and flexibility. Too much intracellular entropy carries the risk of irreversible disruption of intracellular order and malignant transformation [ 37 , 38 ]. The logarithmic relation between mechanical energy in the cell and its entropy aids to restrict the possibility of a steep rise in entropy levels due to excess of mechanical energy.…”

Fluctuations in the Homogeneity of Cell Medium Distinguish Benign from Malignant Lymphocytes in a Cellular Model of Acute T Cells Leukemia

“…In addition to particle tracking, time-dependent fluctuations in general characteristics of the medium, such as homogeneity or information entropy, may depend on intracellular motion. By that, they could also applied for the study of intracellular dynamics [15]. Through this approach, all pixels of a cell image can be considered for analysis.…”

“…Instead, GLIE fluctuations monitor the general chance of all image pixels to experience changes in gray levels due to particles motion. Evaluation of cell dynamics through GLIE fluctuation analysis enabled differentiation of live from dead cells [16] and exploration of a range of cellular physiological conditions that included malignancy [8,15].…”