A computational model of stem cells’ internal mechanism to recapitulate spatial patterning and maintain the self-organized pattern in the homeostasis state

Abstract

Abstract The complex functioning of multi-cellular tissue development relies on proper cell production rates to replace dead or differentiated specialized cells. Stem cells are critical for tissue development and maintenance, as they produce specialized cells to meet the tissues’ demands. In this study, we propose a computational model to investigate the stem cell’s mechanism, which generates the appropriate proportion of specialized cells, and distributes them to their correct position to form and maintain the organized structure in the population through intercellular reactions. Our computational model focuses on early development, where the populations overall behavior is determined by stem cells and signaling molecules. The model does not include complicated factors such as movement of specialized cells or outside signaling sources. The results indicate that in our model, the stem cells can organize the population into a desired spatial pattern, which demonstrates their ability to self-organize as long as the corresponding leading signal is present. We also investigate the impact of stochasticity, which provides desired non-genetic diversity; however, it can also break the proper boundaries of the desired spatial pattern. We further examine the role of the death rate in maintaining the system’s steady state. Overall, our study sheds light on the strategies employed by stem cells to organize specialized cells and maintain proper functionality. Our findings provide insight into the complex mechanisms involved in tissue development and maintenance, which could lead to new approaches in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.