A Diffusion-Reaction Model for Producing a Suitable Environment for Stem Cells in Tissues

作者：Lee Yung Rong^*; Liaw Sy Sang

来源：Chinese Journal of Physics, 2014, 52(2): 927-933.

Since 2000, studies have proven the existence of a stem cell niche necessary for stem cell maintenance in various tissue types. Despite a lack of consensus on the microenvironment structures of stem cell niches, strong evidence indicates that stem cells, most cancer cells, and proliferating cells are likely to survive in acidic and hypoxic microenvironments. In this study, we use diffusion-reaction equations for the lactic acid and oxygen concentrations to simulate glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation reactions in tissues. We find the diffusion-reaction model can produce and sustain the right micro-environment for stem cells. We chose three sets of cell and capillary densities (the two most important model parameters) to respectively represent the heart, liver, and skin tissues. Simulation results are qualitatively consistent with the experimental observations and provide a possible explanation for the high frequency of epithelium-origin cancer and the low frequency of cardiomyocyte-origin cancer.

• 出版日期2014-4