TitleGene expression dynamics in the macrophage exhibit criticality.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2008
AuthorsNykter, M, Price, ND, Aldana, M, Ramsey, SA, Kauffman, SA, Hood, LE, Yli-Harja, O, Shmulevich, I
JournalProc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Volume105
Issue6
Pagination1897-900
Date Published2008 Feb 12
ISSN1091-6490
KeywordsAnimals, Bone Marrow Cells, Gene Expression, Macrophages, Mice
Abstract

Cells are dynamical systems of biomolecular interactions that process information from their environment to mount diverse yet specific responses. A key property of many self-organized systems is that of criticality: a state of a system in which, on average, perturbations are neither dampened nor amplified, but are propagated over long temporal or spatial scales. Criticality enables the coordination of complex macroscopic behaviors that strike an optimal balance between stability and adaptability. It has long been hypothesized that biological systems are critical. Here, we address this hypothesis experimentally for system-wide gene expression dynamics in the macrophage. To this end, we have developed a method, based on algorithmic information theory, to assess macrophage criticality, and we have validated the method on networks with known properties. Using global gene expression data from macrophages stimulated with a variety of Toll-like receptor agonists, we found that macrophage dynamics are indeed critical, providing the most compelling evidence to date for this general principle of dynamics in biological systems.

DOI10.1073/pnas.0711525105
Alternate JournalProc Natl Acad Sci U S A
PubMed ID18250330
PubMed Central IDPMC2538855
Grant ListGM072855 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
GM070600 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
R01 GM072855 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
R21 GM070600 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
P50 GM076547 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States