Adipose Tissue Analysis Toolkit (ATAT) for Automated Analysis of Adipocyte Size and Extracellular Matrix in White Adipose Tissue

Abstract

ObjectiveThe pathological expansion of white adipose tissue (WAT) in obesity involves adipocyte hypertrophy accompanied by expansion of collagen-rich pericellular extracellular matrix (ECM) and the development of crown-like structures (CLS). Traditionally, WAT morphology is assessed through immunohistochemical analysis of WAT sections. However, manual analysis of large histological sections is time-consuming, and available digital tools for analyzing adipocyte size and pericellular ECM are limited. To address this gap, we developed the Adipose Tissue Analysis Toolkit (ATAT), an ImageJ plugin facilitating analysis of adipocyte size, WAT ECM and CLS. Methods and ResultsATAT utilizes local and image-level differentials in pixel intensity to independently threshold background, distinguishing adipocyte-free tissue without user input. It accurately captures adipocytes in histological sections stained with common dyes and automates the analysis of adipocyte cross-sectional area, total-field, and localized region-of-interest ECM. ATAT allows fully automated batch analysis of histological images using default or user-defined adipocyte detection parameters. ConclusionsATAT provides several advantages over existing WAT image analysis tools, enabling high-throughput analyses of adipocyte-specific parameters and facilitating the assessment of ECM changes associated with WAT remodeling due to weight changes and other pathophysiological alterations that affect WAT function. Study Importance Questions What is already known about this subject?The manual analysis of large WAT histological sections is very time-consuming, while digital tools for the analysis of WAT are limited. What are the new findings in your manuscript?- ATAT enables fully automated analysis of batches of histological images using either default or user-defined adipocyte detection parameters - ATAT allows high-throughput analyses of adipocyte-specific parameters and pericellular extracellular matrix - ATAT enables the assessment of fibrotic changes associated with WAT remodeling and crown-like structures How might your results change the direction of research or the focus of clinical practice?- ATAT is designed to work with histological sections and digital images obtained using a slide scanner or a microscope. - This tool will help basic and clinical researchers to conduct automated analyses of adipose tissue histological sections.