Oral: Self-Regulated Symmetry Breaking Model for Stem Cell Differentiation

In disorder-to-order phase transitions, a system changes from a state of high symmetry where all states have equal accessibility (disorder) to a state of low symmetry with a restricted number of available states (order). Often, this transition is triggered by adjusting a control parameter that represents the inherent noise of the system. The process of stem cell differentiation can be viewed as a series of symmetry-breaking events. Pluripotent stem cells, known for their ability to mature into various specialized cell types, are regarded as highly symmetrical systems. In contrast, differentiated cells exhibit lower symmetry since they can only perform a limited range of functions. The main difference between traditional disorder-order phase transitions and the proposed hypothesis of cell differentiation is that cell populations must be able to self-regulate intrinsic noise and navigate through critical points where spontaneous cell differentiation takes place.

In this talk,  a mean-field model for stem cell populations that considers the interplay between cell-to-cell cooperativity, variability, and finite-size effects is presented. We will discuss a feedback mechanism capable of driving stem cell populations through various bifurcation points. Stability analysis shows that the system can differentiate into multiple cells, which are mathematically described as stable nodes and limit cycles. A qualitative comparison with experimental data will also be presented.