Minimal model of calcium dynamics in two heterogeneous coupled cells

Type of content
Journal Article
Thesis discipline
Degree name
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Language
English
Date
2019
Authors
Kenny A
Plank MJ
David T
Abstract

© 2018 Elsevier B.V. Intercellular calcium (Ca2+) waves are an important signalling mechanism in a wide variety of cells within the body, crucial for cellular coordination and control. In order to investigate calcium dynamics in coupled cells, a minimal model describing intracellular Ca2+ dynamics in a single cell is extended to describe two adjacent cells coupled by a flux of Ca2+ via gap junctions. The Ca2+ dynamics of the single cell system are either excitable, nonexcitable or oscillatory, depending on the strength of external stimulus to the inositol trisphosphate (IP3) dependent Ca2+ release pathway. We investigate how the stability and asymptotic dynamics of a system of two heterogeneous cells depend on the single-cell dynamics and the coupling strength. We show analytically that, in the case of very strong coupling, the asymptotic dynamics are the same as in a single cell whose IP3 stimulus strength is the average of the two coupled cells. In cases where one or both cells have an unstable steady state when uncoupled, coupling causes a qualitative change in behaviour. This can include amplitude-modulated oscillations, mixed mode oscillations, and the coalescence of multiple frequencies as the cells eventually become synchronised.

Description
Citation
Kenny A, Plank MJ, David T (2019). Minimal model of calcium dynamics in two heterogeneous coupled cells. Neurocomputing. Volume 323, 5 January 2019, Pages 128-138
Keywords
Calcium-induced calcium release, Coupled oscillator, Gap junctions, Intercellular signalling
Ngā upoko tukutuku/Māori subject headings
ANZSRC fields of research
Fields of Research::49 - Mathematical sciences::4901 - Applied mathematics::490102 - Biological mathematics
Rights
Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives License