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Published on: March 20, 2014
Multiscale Modeling Indicates That Temperature Dependent [Ca2+]i Spiking in Astrocytes Is Quantitatively Consistent
Niko Komin1, Mahsa Moein2, Mark H Ellisman3
1Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, 7 Avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, 4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg ; National Centre for Microscopy and Imaging Research, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0608, USA.
Astrocytes use calcium ion (Ca2+) signaling to modulate neuronal activity. Increased activity of calcium pumps (SERCAs) explains temperature-dependent Ca2+ spikes in astrocytes, leading to a spatial decoupling of signaling.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cellular Biology
- Computational Biology
Background:
- Cytosolic calcium ion ([Ca2+]) concentration changes are key astrocyte signaling mechanisms influencing neuronal activity and plasticity.
- Despite extensive research, the precise mechanisms and tissue-level impact of astrocyte calcium signaling remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the temperature dependence of astrocyte calcium ([Ca2+]) signals.
- To test the hypothesis that increased sarcoendoplasmic reticulum ATPase (SERCA) activity drives temperature-dependent calcium spiking in astrocytes.
Main Methods:
- Revisiting previously published experimental data on astrocyte calcium signals in cultured cells and brain slices.
- Applying multiscale modeling and traditional rate equations to simulate and analyze calcium dynamics.
- Quantitatively comparing simulation results with experimental observations.
Main Results:
- Multiscale simulations quantitatively support the hypothesis that elevated SERCA activity is responsible for the temperature-dependent [Ca2+]i spiking observed in astrocytes.
- Further analysis indicates that increased pump strength leads to a spatial decoupling of calcium release sites.
- This decoupling results in the eventual disappearance of cytosolic calcium ion spikes.
Conclusions:
- The activity of sarcoendoplasmic reticulum ATPases (SERCAs) is a primary determinant of temperature-dependent calcium signaling dynamics in astrocytes.
- Astrocyte calcium signaling exhibits spatial properties where enhanced SERCA activity can disrupt coordinated calcium release events.
- Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for comprehending astrocyte modulation of neuronal function and plasticity.
