Cell-cell interaction and diversity of emergent behaviours

Cells exhibit limited expression patterns despite vast gene expression potential. Boolean models of gene networks have been used to study self-organisation in biological systems. However, the impact of intercellular communication on the diversity of expression patterns remains unclear. Prior research has shown that gene regulatory networks can stabilise into steady states. Yet, how cell-cell interactions influence these states is less understood. This gap motivated the development of a new modeling framework. The study addresses whether communication between cells expands or reduces their possible steady states. The question is whether cooperation leads to more or fewer expression patterns. This uncertainty drives the need for a model that captures intercellular dynamics.

The aim is to investigate how cell-cell communication affects the diversity of gene expression patterns. The study focuses on whether intercellular exchange promotes or restricts possible steady states. It seeks to determine if cooperation among cells leads to greater or fewer expression profiles. The motivation stems from the observation that cells adapt to signals from their neighbours. The problem lies in understanding how this adaptation shapes cellular diversity. The study introduces a model to simulate interactions between cells. It aims to uncover general properties of communication's influence on cellular behaviour. The framework is designed to explore how exchange of products affects expression patterns.

The study uses multi random Boolean networks to model cell-cell interactions. These networks simulate gene regulatory dynamics across multiple cells. The model incorporates exchange of gene products between adjacent cells. It tracks how this exchange affects the number of possible steady states. The approach includes varying the intensity of intercellular communication. The model is tested under different coupling conditions. It measures the resulting diversity and similarity of expression patterns. The method evaluates whether moderate or invasive coupling leads to more or fewer states.

Moderate exchange of gene products increases the diversity of cell expression patterns. At the same time, these patterns become more similar to each other. In contrast, stronger coupling reduces diversity and leads to homogeneity. The model shows that a moderate level of communication fosters variety. However, this variety is constrained by increased similarity among cells. The strongest coupling results in uniform expression across cells. The study finds that communication intensity determines the balance between diversity and similarity. These results suggest that intercellular interactions can both expand and constrain expression patterns.

The authors propose that moderate cell-cell communication enhances the variety of expression patterns. However, this diversity is accompanied by increased similarity among cells. Stronger coupling leads to homogeneity in expression profiles. The study suggests that communication can both expand and constrain cellular diversity. These findings imply that the intensity of intercellular exchange is crucial. The model demonstrates that communication shapes the balance between diversity and similarity. The results align with the hypothesis that communication influences self-organisation in cells. The authors conclude that intercellular interactions are a key factor in shaping cellular behaviour.