Stabilization of telomeres in nonlinear models of proliferating cell lines.
We analyse an age-structured model of telomere loss in a proliferating cell population. The cell population is divided into telomere classes, which shorten each round of division. The model consists of a nonlinear system of partial differential equations for the telomere classes. We prove that if the highest telomere class is exempted from mortality, then all the classes stabilize to a nontrivial equilibrium dependent on the initial state of cells in the highest telomere class.
Dyson
Janet
J
Mansfield College, University of Oxford, Oxford, England. janet.dyson@mansfield.ox.ac.uk
Sánchez
Eva
E
Villella-Bressan
Rosanna
R
Webb
Glenn F
GF
D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008954:Models, Biological; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D016615:Telomere / Q000648:ultrastructure*