title: Stem cell regulation: Implications when differentiated cells regulate symmetric stem cell division.
abstract: We use a mathematical model to show that if symmetric stem cell division is regulated by differentiated cells, then changes in the population dynamics of the differentiated cells can lead to changes in the population dynamics of the stem cells. More precisely, the relative fitness of the stem cells can be affected by modifying the death rate of the differentiated cells. This result is interesting because stem cells are less sensitive than differentiated cells to environmental factors, such as medical therapy. Our result implies that stem cells can be manipulated indirectly by medical treatments that target the differentiated cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Tromsø, Norway. Electronic address: marte.rorvik.hoyem@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Marte Rørvik
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Høyem
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science, University of Stavanger, Norway.
authors.forename: Frode
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Måløy
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jakobsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Bjørn Olav
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Brandsdal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*
keywords: Cancer; Cell signalling; Evolutionary dynamics; Mathematical modelling; Stem cells