Preferentially selecting the image analysis software for the abundance analysis of the proteinic spots of the Cytokine Array

Abstract

Objective In order to preferentially select the most suitable image analysis software for the abundance analysis of the proteinic spot of Cytokine Array, we compared 3 kinds of image analysis software in analyzing the randomly selected proteinic spots of the Cytokine Array. Methods Four proteinic spots were randomly selected from a pair of Cytokine Array images obtained in our lab. Three image analysis softwares of Gel-Pro analyzer/Labwork, Quantity One and Image J were applied to repeatedly analyze the abundance of the selected proteinic spots. The repeatability and complexity of the analysis procedures of these softwares were assayed. In order to test whether the software analysis result agreed to that of the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the abundance of the corresponding proteins of the selected proteinic spots were also assayed with ELISA. Results The highest and lowest repeatability of the analysis result of the software ranked as Gel-Pro analyzer/Labwork, Quantity One and Image J. The least and the most procedure complexity of the software was Gel-Pro analyzer/Labwork, Quantity One and Image J. The best to the poorest agreement degrees of the software analysis results with the ELISA assay ones were Quantity One, Image J and Gel-Pro analyzer/Labwork. Conclusion In the proteinic spots evaluation in Cytokine Array analysis, the Gel-Pro analyzer/Labwork is suggested for qualitative analysis and the Quantity One is recommended for semi-quantitative analysis. If taking into account the repeatility, complexity and agreement to ELISA, the Quantity One is proposed first. Key words: Image analysis software; Cytokine array; Grey value