title: PC12 and HEL cell communication in a reconstituted synapse analyzed with mathematical modeling.
abstract: A synapse simulating model comprising of the nerve growth factor (NGF)-differentiated PC12 cells releasing neurotransmitter (NT) and sensor 92.1.7.human erythroleukemia (HEL) cells has been used for simulating the connection between neurons and target cells. A Ca(2+) elevation was observed in both cell types when the PC12 cells were challenged with nicotine. The response patterns of individual cell were subsequently analyzed mathematically. The Ca(2+) signals of the PC12 cells were described by an equation representing a simple bi-exponential function. The NT-noradrenaline discharged by the PC12 cells in response to nicotine caused heterogeneous secondary Ca(2+) elevations in the HEL cells after a certain delay. Model fitting of this response disclosed slow "hidden" oscillations and heterogeneous secondary Ca(2+) signals could be grouped on the basis of the oscillation frequency. As determined in control experiments with noradrenaline (NA), the value of oscillation frequency also revealed a good correlation with the NT concentration.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cell Physiology, Department of Neuroscience, Box 572, BMC, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3, 75123 Uppsala, Sweden. elena.krukova@fysiologi.uu.se
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krjukova
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mirtov
authors.forename: Karl E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Akerman
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D004915:Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute / Q000473:pathology*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008959:Models, Neurological; D015233:Models, Statistical; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D016716:PC12 Cells; D051381:Rats; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D009538:Nicotine; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D002118:Calcium; D009638:Norepinephrine