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Intercellular calcium waves mediated by diffusion of inositol trisphosphate: a two-dimensional model
J Sneyd1, B T Wetton, A C Charles
1Department of Biomathematics, School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles 90024, USA.
The American Journal of Physiology
|June 1, 1995
Summary
Mechanical stimulation triggers calcium waves in airway epithelial cells. A new model suggests inositol trisphosphate (IP3) diffusion mediates these waves, predicting wave behavior and providing testable parameters.
Area of Science:
- Cellular biology
- Biophysics
- Physiology
Background:
- Airway epithelial cells exhibit intercellular calcium (Ca2+) waves upon mechanical stimulation.
- These Ca2+ waves spread cell-to-cell over limited distances in cultured cell sheets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the mechanism of intercellular Ca2+ waves in a two-dimensional cell sheet.
- To test the hypothesis that inositol trisphosphate (IP3) diffusion mediates these waves.
Main Methods:
- Development and analysis of a two-dimensional mathematical model.
- Comparison of model predictions with experimental data.
Main Results:
- The model accurately predicts exponential increases in intercellular delay, wave speed, and arrival time with distance.
- Model predicts peripheral cells may show decreased amplitude waves.
- Quantitative predictions for IP3 diffusion and receptor kinetics were derived.
Conclusions:
- The findings support the hypothesis that IP3 diffusion is the primary mediator of intercellular Ca2+ waves.
- The study provides specific, testable predictions to validate the IP3 diffusion model.