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Understanding Normal and Pathological Hematopoietic Stem Cell Biology Using Mathematical Modelling

  • Mathematical Models of Stem Cell Behavior (M Kohandel and M Przedborski, Section Editors)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) produce all blood cells via a tightly controlled production system. Disruptions to control mechanisms can induce serious disorders, including leukemias. In this review, we provide an overview of how mathematical modelling has contributed to our understanding of normal and pathological HSC biology.

Recent Findings

Through the increased availability of a variety of experimental and clinical data, new approaches to mathematically modelling HSCs have revealed how clonality is regulated in the hematopoietic system over time, how increasingly clonal hematopoietic and leukemic stem cell populations contribute to the development of acute myeloid leukemia, and the mechanisms and kinetics of HSC regulation.

Summary

Mathematical modelling is a complementary tool to quantitatively explore HSC and hematopoietic regulation. Studies combining experimental, clinical, and theoretical approaches have deepened our understanding of HSC biology and aid future investigations to reveal the mechanisms of HSC maintenance and production.

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MB and MC are funded by the CHU Sainte-Justine Immune Diseases and Cancer Pôle d’excellence and NSERC Discovery Grant RGPIN-2018-04546.

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  1. Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada

    Mia Brunetti & Morgan Craig

  2. Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Centre, Montréal, Canada

    Mia Brunetti & Morgan Craig

  3. Departments of Physiology, Mathematics and Statistics, and Physics, McGill University, Montréal, Canada

    Michael C. Mackey

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Brunetti, M., Mackey, M.C. & Craig, M. Understanding Normal and Pathological Hematopoietic Stem Cell Biology Using Mathematical Modelling. Curr Stem Cell Rep 7, 109–120 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40778-021-00191-9

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