Regensburg 2016 – wissenschaftliches Programm

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 40: Statistical Physics of Biological Systems II (Joint Session with DY)

BP 40.4: Vortrag

Mittwoch, 9. März 2016, 12:15–12:30, H43

The statistical physics of hematopoiesis: from stem cell engraftment to ageing and disease — •Peter Ashcroft¹, Sebastian Bonhoeffer¹, Philipp Rauch², and Markus Manz² — ¹ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland — ²University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) maintain blood production. The hematopoietic system has the highest turnover and proliferation rate of cells in the body, however, hematologic malignancies are not the most frequent forms of human cancer. A fine tuned system with many layers of control has evolved that limits and eliminates potentially malignant clones. The overall aim of our research is to obtain a clear, quantitative understanding of the hematopoietic system and the emergence of disease through combined theoretical and experimental work. Here we will describe the theoretical approach. We use techniques from statistical physics and probability theory to analyse the structure of the hematopoietic system at different scales. Experimental investigations of HSCs often involve the transplantation of low numbers of stem cells into a host. We construct and analyse an individual-based model of this process, and determine the probability that donor cells successfully engraft in the host. These donor cells could also represent the invasion of malignant cells and the initiation of blood-based diseases. We also investigate the structure of the hematopoietic tree and the influence this has on the proliferation of diseased cells. Finally, we describe the impact that stem cell ageing has on the hematopoietic system's ability to maintain a healthy supply of blood to the body.