A control-theoretical approach to the identification of a commitment switch in B lymphopoiesis cell fate determination

Cellular differentiation is continuously orchestrated by complex networks of transcription factors, signaling molecules and genetic and epigenetic events, a fundamental prerequisite for the design of strategies for reprogramming differentiated cells to immature stem/progenitor cells is a thorough understanding of such complex regulatory machinery. Therefore, mathematical models, along with the associated analysis and control methods, are highly needed in this research field. In the present work, we provide a first model of the genetic regulatory network driving the cellular fate determination at the stage of lymphoid lineage commitment, in particular during lineage restriction of multipotent progenitors to early B-cell committed precursors.