[PDF][PDF] Virtual cells in a virtual microenvironment recapitulate early development-like patterns in human pluripotent stem cell colonies

H Kaul, N Werschler, RD Jones, MM Siu, M Tewary… - Stem cell reports, 2023 - cell.com
Stem cell reports, 2023cell.com
The mechanism by which morphogenetic signals engage the regulatory networks
responsible for early embryonic tissue patterning is incompletely understood. Here, we
developed a minimal gene regulatory network (GRN) model of human pluripotent stem cell
(hPSC) lineage commitment and embedded it into" cellular" agents that respond to a
dynamic morphogenetic signaling microenvironment. Simulations demonstrated that GRN
wiring had significant non-intuitive effects on tissue pattern order, composition, and …
Summary
The mechanism by which morphogenetic signals engage the regulatory networks responsible for early embryonic tissue patterning is incompletely understood. Here, we developed a minimal gene regulatory network (GRN) model of human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) lineage commitment and embedded it into "cellular" agents that respond to a dynamic morphogenetic signaling microenvironment. Simulations demonstrated that GRN wiring had significant non-intuitive effects on tissue pattern order, composition, and dynamics. Experimental perturbation of GRN connectivities supported model predictions and demonstrated the role of OCT4 as a master regulator of peri-gastrulation fates. Our so-called GARMEN strategy provides a multiscale computational platform to understand how single-cell-based regulatory interactions scale to tissue domains. This foundation provides new opportunities to simulate the impact of network motifs on normal and aberrant tissue development.
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