Application of Hybrid Models to Blood Cell Production in the Bone Marrow

Abstract. A hybrid model of red blood cell production, where cells are considered as discrete objects while intra-cellular proteins and extra-cellular biochemical substances are described with continuous models, is proposed. Spatial organization and regulation of red blood cell production (erythropoiesis) are investigated. Normal erythropoiesis is simulated in two dimensions, and the influence on the output of the model of some parameters involved in cell fate (differentiation, self-renewal, and death by apoptosis) is studied. Key words: hybrid models, erythropoiesis, regulatory mechanism