Abstract

Tracking Stem Cell Fate Choices at Single Cell Level

Adrian Ranga, Senior Scientist, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne

Tissue homeostasis and regeneration are critically dependent on the ability of stem cells to self-renew and to give rise to more specialized progeny. The complex microenvironment in which the stem cells reside, called the niche, has been shown to play a crucial role in this process, yet the underlying mechanisms regulating stem cell-niche crosstalk are poorly understood. In order to dissect this complex molecular interplay at the single cell level, we have engineered artificial stem cell niches using advanced biomaterials and micro-technology approaches and have employed these in vitro systems to better understand the role of the microenvironment in regulating stem cell fate. We have developed novel high-throughput paradigms to simultaneously generate thousands of unique artificial niches and evaluate their effects on cell fate. Combined with single-cell imaging techniques and advanced statistical modeling, these tools have allowed us to unveil comprehensive maps of interactions relating microenvironmental parameters and their role in regulating self-renewal and lineage commitment.