The Effect of Cellular Noise on MSC Cell Fate Decisions

Alec H. Lam1, Tara L. Deans, PhD1

1Department of Bioengineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

Variation in gene expression level, termed as cellular noise, is a ubiquitous characteristic among all cell populations. Despite this inherent stochasticity, cells such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) still have the ability to undergo important cell fate decisions. To investigate the role of noise in cell fate decisions, we are examining the differentiation efficiency of MSCs in the presence of various amounts of exogenous noise. To accomplish this, we are building genetic circuits to control fluctuations of noise in MSCs and assessing the differentiation outcome based on this noise. We have found that cellular noise is an important mechanistic factor that influences a MSC differentiation potential. Further, these results suggest that cellular noise is a tool that can be used to control cell differentiation.