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Bayesian inference of cell-to-cell interactions in low-nutrient neuroblastoma cell cultures

Hamis, S.; Hafiichuk, K.; Karlsson, J.; Gisselsson, D.; Chattopadhyay, S.

2025-03-17 cancer biology
10.1101/2025.03.17.643601 bioRxiv
Show abstract

Neuroblastoma is characterised by significant intratumoural heterogeneity which complicates treatments. Phenotypic plasticity, i.e., the ability of cells to alter their phenotype without genetic mutations, is a key factor contributing to this heterogeneity. In this study, we quantify cell actions and cell-to-cell interactions that lead to phenotypic adaptation in vitro under stress, specifically low-nutrient conditions. We initially record dynamic cell counts under various nutrient conditions for two neuroblastoma cell lines with known phenotype differences. Subsequently, we compile a list of plausible biological processes that could transpire within the aforementioned systems. We then construct candidate models employing mass-action kinetics. To quantitatively infer processes that lead to phenotypic adaptation, we perform a model selection based on computational Bayesian inference methods.Our results suggest that cell-to-cell interactions promote phenotypic adaptation and that the rate of this adaptation increases with decreasing nutrient concentrations. We perform flow cytometry-based experiments to corroborate changes in phenotype composition in response to both nutrient-deprived and treatmentinduced stress conditions.

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