Comparing the Gene Expression Levels of Embryonic and Mesenchymal Stem Cells using Experimental Data and a Mathematical Network Model Glen R Kirkham*, Anna Lovrics, John King, Virginie Soltile, Kevin Shakesheff, Lee D Buttery University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, United Kingdom (*
[email protected])
Stem cells have the potential to differentiate into a wide variety of cell types. The number of phenotypes they are able to form is variable and determined by the stem cell type and the relevant stimuli. Biological comparisons between stem cells have, to date, been limited to data obtained from distinct studies, which could negatively affect the accuracy of any conclusions. With this in mind two stem cell types, mouse embryonic stem cells (mES) and mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (mBM-MSCs), were cultured in parallel in the presence of the growth factors TGFβ1 and BMP-2 (separately and in combination). The expression of the genes Dlx5, Msx2 and Runx2 was monitored at 8, 16, 24 and 48 hours after initial exposure by real time RT-PCR analysis. The expression profiles of these distinct stem cell types were also compared to gene expression levels in primary mouse bone cells at the same time points. The quantitative data gathered was used in conjunction with data from literature searches to formulate a mathematical network model of the gene regulation mechanism. This model will be used as a basis for predicting stem gene expression in response to various growth factors and has the potential to be used as a predictive toll for tissue engineering applications.
