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Agent-based Modeling with Embryonic Stem Cells During Gastrulation
Citation:
Spencer, R., N. Baker, AND T. Knudsen. Agent-based Modeling with Embryonic Stem Cells During Gastrulation. American Society for Cellular and Computational Toxicology (ASCCT) annual meeting, NA, Virtual, October 20 - 22, 2020. https://doi.org/10.23645/epacomptox.17114081
Impact/Purpose:
Poster presented to the American Society for Cellular and Computational Toxicology (ASCCT) annual meeting October 2020. Poster presentation on virtual reconstruction of early embryogenesis for predictive developmental toxicology.
Description:
New approach methodologies (NAMs) that enable in vitro profiling of chemical-biological interactions come with the need for in silico models that translate vast amounts of data and information into toxicological prediction. We are building and testing a dynamic agent-based model of the embryonic epiblast (ES-ABM), which is the origin for most cell types of the fetus and the structure most closely resembled by pluripotent embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Both systems are autopoietic (self-organizing); however, the epiblast uniquely decodes the genomic blueprint of the embryonic body plan during gastrulation. An area of active investigation in embryology is how axial symmetry unfolds. ES-ABM was initially designed to model stochastic and deterministic dynamics of locally interacting stem cell agents via conserved signaling pathways (eg, WNT, FGF, BMP, NODAL, LEFTY, ATRA, …). These signals establish the midline (anterior - posterior) body axis via primitive streak formation, which is the hallmark of gastrulation in vertebrate species. ES-ABM will be used to simulate positional information and recapitulate regional specification of the early embryo as a data-driven model that puts into motion (in silico) chemical-bioactivity profiles affecting hESC behaviors (in vitro) to quantitatively simulate what these exposures would do to the embryo (in vivo) in a 3Rs-compliant manner. This abstract does not reflect Agency policy.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: Agent-based Modeling with Embryonic Stem Cells During Gastrulation
KNUDSEN_ASCCT.PDF (PDF, NA pp, 3837.024 KB, about PDF)