Computational modeling of megakaryocytic differentiation of umbilical cord blood-derived stem/progenitor cells

Quantifying the effect of exogenous parameters regulating megakaryopoiesis would enhance the design of robust and efficient protocols to produce platelets. We developed a computational model based on time-dependent ordinary differential equations (ODEs) which decoupled expansion and differentiation kinetics of cells using a subpopulation dynamic model. The model described umbilical cord blood (UCB)-derived cell's behavior in response to the external stimuli during expansion and megakaryocytic differentiation ex vivo. We observed that the rate of expansion of Mk progenitors and production of mature Mks were higher when TPO was included in the expansion stage and cytokines were added during differentiation stage. Our computational approach suggests that the Mk progenitors were an important intermediate population that their dynamic should be optimized in order to establish an efficient protocol. This model provides important insights into dynamics of cell subpopulations during megakaryopoiesis process and could potentially contribute toward the rational design of cell-based therapy bioprocesses.