scholarly journals UPMaBoSS: a novel framework for dynamic cell population modeling

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gautier Stoll ◽  
Aurélien Naldi ◽  
Vincent Noël ◽  
Eric Viara ◽  
Emmanuel Barillot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Cellular Networks ◽  
Cell Population ◽  
Cell Fate Decisions ◽  
Dynamic Cell ◽  
Drug Treatments ◽  
A Cell ◽  
The Impact

AbstractOne of the aims of mathematical modeling is to understand and simulate the effects of biological perturbations and suggest ways to intervene and reestablish proper cell functioning. However, it remains a challenge, especially when considering the dynamics at the level of a cell population, with cells dying, dividing and interacting. Here, we introduce a novel framework for the dynamical modelling of cell populations packaged into a dedicated tool, UPMaBoSS. We rely on the preexisting tool MaBoSS, which enables probabilistic simulations of cellular networks, and add a novel layer to account for cell interactions and population dynamics. We illustrate our methodology by means of a case study dealing with TNF-induced cell death. Interestingly, the simulation of cell population dynamics with UPMaBoSS reveals a mechanism of resistance triggered by TNF treatment. This appoach can be applied to diverse models of cellular networks, for example to study the impact of ligand release or drug treatments on cell fate decisions, such as commitment to proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, etc. Relatively easy to encode, UPMaBoSS simulations require only moderate computational power and execution time.To ease the reproduction of simulations, we provide several Jupyter notebooks that can be accessed within a new release of the CoLoMoTo Docker image, which contains all required software and the example models.

scholarly journals Nongenetic origins of cell-to-cell variability in B lymphocyte proliferation

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (12) ◽  
pp. E2888-E2897 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Mitchell ◽  
Koushik Roy ◽  
Thomas A. Zangle ◽  
Alexander Hoffmann
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Cell Population ◽  
B Lymphocyte ◽  
Population Expansion ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Cell Population Dynamics ◽  
Cell Fate Decisions ◽  
Founder Cells

Rapid antibody production in response to invading pathogens requires the dramatic expansion of pathogen-derived antigen-specific B lymphocyte populations. Whether B cell population dynamics are based on stochastic competition between competing cell fates, as in the development of competence by the bacterium Bacillus subtilis, or on deterministic cell fate decisions that execute a predictable program, as during the development of the worm Caenorhabditis elegans, remains unclear. Here, we developed long-term live-cell microscopy of B cell population expansion and multiscale mechanistic computational modeling to characterize the role of molecular noise in determining phenotype heterogeneity. We show that the cell lineage trees underlying B cell population dynamics are mediated by a largely predictable decision-making process where the heterogeneity of cell proliferation and death decisions at any given timepoint largely derives from nongenetic heterogeneity in the founder cells. This means that contrary to previous models, only a minority of genetically identical founder cells contribute the majority to the population response. We computationally predict and experimentally confirm nongenetic molecular determinants that are predictive of founder cells’ proliferative capacity. While founder cell heterogeneity may arise from different exposure histories, we show that it may also be due to the gradual accumulation of small amounts of intrinsic noise during the lineage differentiation process of hematopoietic stem cells to mature B cells. Our finding of the largely deterministic nature of B lymphocyte responses may provide opportunities for diagnostic and therapeutic development.

scholarly journals Genomic insights into chromatin reprogramming to totipotency in embryos

2018 ◽  
Vol 218 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrina Ladstätter ◽  
Kikuë Tachibana
Keyword(s):  
Cell Fate ◽  
Regulatory Networks ◽  
Chromatin Accessibility ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Epigenetic Reprogramming ◽  
Mammalian Embryo ◽  
Cell Fate Decisions ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Early Mouse ◽  
Chromatin Reprogramming

The early embryo is the natural prototype for the acquisition of totipotency, which is the potential of a cell to produce a whole organism. Generation of a totipotent embryo involves chromatin reorganization and epigenetic reprogramming that alter DNA and histone modifications. Understanding embryonic chromatin architecture and how this is related to the epigenome and transcriptome will provide invaluable insights into cell fate decisions. Recently emerging low-input genomic assays allow the exploration of regulatory networks in the sparsely available mammalian embryo. Thus, the field of developmental biology is transitioning from microscopy to genome-wide chromatin descriptions. Ultimately, the prototype becomes a unique model for studying fundamental principles of development, epigenetic reprogramming, and cellular plasticity. In this review, we discuss chromatin reprogramming in the early mouse embryo, focusing on DNA methylation, chromatin accessibility, and higher-order chromatin structure.

scholarly journals Theoretical study of the impact of adaptation on cell-fate heterogeneity and fractional killing

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julien Hurbain ◽  
Darka Labavić ◽  
Quentin Thommen ◽  
Benjamin Pfeuty
Keyword(s):  
Cell Fate ◽  
Stochastic Dynamics ◽  
Biochemical Networks ◽  
Stochastic Bifurcation ◽  
Modeling Framework ◽  
Life And Death ◽  
Cell Fate Decisions ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Adaptation Response ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Fractional killing illustrates the cell propensity to display a heterogeneous fate response over a wide range of stimuli. The interplay between the nonlinear and stochastic dynamics of biochemical networks plays a fundamental role in shaping this probabilistic response and in reconciling requirements for heterogeneity and controllability of cell-fate decisions. The stress-induced fate choice between life and death depends on an early adaptation response which may contribute to fractional killing by amplifying small differences between cells. To test this hypothesis, we consider a stochastic modeling framework suited for comprehensive sensitivity analysis of dose response curve through the computation of a fractionality index. Combining bifurcation analysis and Langevin simulation, we show that adaptation dynamics enhances noise-induced cell-fate heterogeneity by shifting from a saddle-node to a saddle-collision transition scenario. The generality of this result is further assessed by a computational analysis of a detailed regulatory network model of apoptosis initiation and by a theoretical analysis of stochastic bifurcation mechanisms. Overall, the present study identifies a cooperative interplay between stochastic, adaptation and decision intracellular processes that could promote cell-fate heterogeneity in many contexts.

scholarly journals Exploratory cell dynamics: a sense of touch for cells?

2018 ◽  
Vol 399 (8) ◽  
pp. 809-819 ◽  
Author(s):  
Perihan Nalbant ◽  
Leif Dehmelt
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Cell Behavior ◽  
Directional Migration ◽  
Cell Dynamics ◽  
Cell Fate Decisions ◽  
External Cues ◽  
Dynamic Cell ◽  
Sense Of Touch ◽  
Efficient Mechanisms

Abstract Cells need to process multifaceted external cues to steer their dynamic behavior. To efficiently perform this task, cells implement several exploratory mechanisms to actively sample their environment. In particular, cells can use exploratory actin-based cell protrusions and contractions to engage and squeeze the environment and to actively probe its chemical and mechanical properties. Multiple excitable signal networks were identified that can generate local activity pulses to control these exploratory processes. Such excitable signal networks offer particularly efficient mechanisms to process chemical or mechanical signals to steer dynamic cell behavior, such as directional migration, tissue morphogenesis and cell fate decisions.

United colours of chromatin? Developmental genome organisation in flies

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 691-700
Author(s):  
Caroline Delandre ◽  
Owen J. Marshall
Keyword(s):  
Cell Fate ◽  
Fruit Fly ◽  
Genome Organisation ◽  
Chromatin Protein ◽  
Cell Type ◽  
Chromatin States ◽  
Cell Fate Decisions ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Cell Type Specific ◽  
Chromatin Biology

Abstract The organisation of DNA into differing forms of packaging, or chromatin, controls many of the cell fate decisions during development. Although early studies focused on individual forms of chromatin, in the last decade more holistic studies have attempted to determine a complete picture of the different forms of chromatin present within a cell. In the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, the study of chromatin states has been aided by the use of complementary and cell-type-specific techniques that profile the marks that recruit chromatin protein binding or the proteins themselves. Although many questions remain unanswered, a clearer picture of how different chromatin states affect development is now emerging, with more unusual chromatin states such as Black chromatin playing key roles. Here, we discuss recent findings regarding chromatin biology in flies.

scholarly journals Quantifying the Stability of Coupled Genetic and Epigenetic Switches With Variational Methods

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amogh Sood ◽  
Bin Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Gene Regulation ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Histone Modifications ◽  
Regulatory Networks ◽  
Variational Principles ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Gene Expression Profiles ◽  
Cell Fate Decisions ◽  
The Impact

The Waddington landscape provides an intuitive metaphor to view development as a ball rolling down the hill, with distinct phenotypes as basins and differentiation pathways as valleys. Since, at a molecular level, cell differentiation arises from interactions among the genes, a mathematical definition for the Waddington landscape can, in principle, be obtained by studying the gene regulatory networks. For eukaryotes, gene regulation is inextricably and intimately linked to histone modifications. However, the impact of such modifications on both landscape topography and stability of attractor states is not fully understood. In this work, we introduced a minimal kinetic model for gene regulation that combines the impact of both histone modifications and transcription factors. We further developed an approximation scheme based on variational principles to solve the corresponding master equation in a second quantized framework. By analyzing the steady-state solutions at various parameter regimes, we found that histone modification kinetics can significantly alter the behavior of a genetic network, resulting in qualitative changes in gene expression profiles. The emerging epigenetic landscape captures the delicate interplay between transcription factors and histone modifications in driving cell-fate decisions.

Postmitotic cells fated to become rod photoreceptors can be respecified by CNTF treatment of the retina

Development ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 124 (5) ◽  
pp. 1055-1067 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z.D. Ezzeddine ◽  
X. Yang ◽  
T. DeChiara ◽  
G. Yancopoulos ◽  
C.L. Cepko
Keyword(s):  
Cell Fate ◽  
Amacrine Cells ◽  
Bipolar Cells ◽  
Extrinsic Factors ◽  
Rod Photoreceptors ◽  
Cell Fate Decisions ◽  
Retinal Explants ◽  
A Cell

Lineage analyses of vertebrate retinae have led to the suggestions that cell fate decisions are made during or after the terminal cell division and that extrinsic factors can influence fate choices. The evidence for a role of extrinsic factors is strongest for development of rodent rod photoreceptors ('rods'). In an effort to identify molecules that may regulate rod development, a number of known factors were assayed in vitro. Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) was found to have a range of effects on retinal cells. Addition of CNTF to postnatal rat retinal explants resulted in a dramatic reduction in the number of differentiating rods. Conversly, the number of cells expressing markers of bipolar cell differentiation was increased to a level not normally seen in vivo or in vitro. In addition, a small increase in the percentage of cells expressing either a marker of amacrine cells or a marker of Muller glia was noted. It was determined that many of the cells that would normally differentiate into rods were the cells that differentiated as bipolar cells in the presence of CNTF. Prospective rod photoreceptors could make this change even when they were postmitotic, indicating that at least a subset of cells fated to be rods were not committed to this fate at the time they were born. These findings highlight the distinction between cell fate and commitment. Resistance to the effect of CNTF on rod differentiation occurred at about the time that a cell began to express opsin. The time of commitment to terminal rod differentiation may thus coincide with the initiation of opsin expression. In agreement with the hypothesis that CNTF plays a role in rod differentiation in vivo, a greater percentage of cells were observed differentiating as rod photoreceptors in mouse retinal explants lacking a functional CNTF receptor, relative to wild-type littermates.

scholarly journals The Impact of Epigenetic Signatures on Amniotic Fluid Stem Cell Fate

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Di Tizio ◽  
Alessandra Di Serafino ◽  
Prabin Upadhyaya ◽  
Luca Sorino ◽  
Liborio Stuppia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Stem Cells ◽  
Amniotic Fluid ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Histone Modifications ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Cell Fate Decisions ◽  
Small Noncoding Rnas ◽  
Tight Correlation ◽  
The Impact

Epigenetic modifications play a significant role in determining the fate of stem cells and in directing the differentiation into multiple lineages. Current evidence indicates that mechanisms involved in chromatin regulation are essential for maintaining stable cell identities. There is a tight correlation among DNA methylation, histone modifications, and small noncoding RNAs during the epigenetic control of stem cells’ differentiation; however, to date, the precise mechanism is still not clear. In this context, amniotic fluid stem cells (AFSCs) represent an interesting model due to their unique features and the possible advantages of their use in regenerative medicine. Recent studies have elucidated epigenetic profiles involved in AFSCs’ lineage commitment and differentiation. In order to use these cells effectively for therapeutic purposes, it is necessary to understand the basis of multiple-lineage potential and elaborate in detail how cell fate decisions are made and memorized. The present review summarizes the most recent findings on epigenetic mechanisms of AFSCs with a focus on DNA methylation, histone modifications, and microRNAs (miRNAs) and addresses how their unique signatures contribute to lineage-specific differentiation.

Phagocyte NADPH oxidase and specific immunity

2015 ◽  
Vol 128 (10) ◽  
pp. 635-648 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julien Cachat ◽  
Christine Deffert ◽  
Stephanie Hugues ◽  
Karl-Heinz Krause
Keyword(s):  
Dendritic Cells ◽  
Nadph Oxidase ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
B Lymphocytes ◽  
Antigen Processing ◽  
Ros Generation ◽  
Cell Fate Decisions ◽  
Specific Immunity ◽  
Phagocyte Nadph Oxidase ◽  
The Impact

The phagocyte NADPH oxidase NOX2 produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) and is a well-known player in host defence. However, there is also increasing evidence for a regulatory role of NOX2 in adaptive immunity. Deficiency in phagocyte NADPH oxidase causes chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) in humans, a condition that can also be studied in CGD mice. Clinical observations in CGD patients suggest a higher susceptibility to autoimmune diseases, in particular lupus, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and rheumatoid arthritis. In mice, a strong correlation exists between a polymorphism in a NOX2 subunit and the development of autoimmune arthritis. NOX2 deficiency in mice also favours lupus development. Both CGD patients and CGD mice exhibit increased levels of immunoglobulins, including autoantibodies. Despite these phenotypes suggesting a role for NOX2 in specific immunity, mechanistic explanations for the typical increase of CGD in autoimmune disease and antibody levels are still preliminary. NOX2-dependent ROS generation is well documented for dendritic cells and B-lymphocytes. It is unclear whether T-lymphocytes produce ROS themselves or whether they are exposed to ROS derived from dendritic cells during the process of antigen presentation. ROS are signalling molecules in virtually any cell type, including T- and B-lymphocytes. However, knowledge about the impact of ROS-dependent signalling on T- and B-lymphocyte phenotype and response is still limited. ROS might contribute to Th1/Th2/Th17 cell fate decisions during T-lymphocyte activation and might enhance immunoglobulin production by B-lymphocytes. In dendritic cells, NOX2-derived ROS might be important for antigen processing and cell activation.

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