title: Calcium wave propagation in networks of endothelial cells: model-based theoretical and experimental study.
abstract: In this paper, we present a combined theoretical and experimental study of the propagation of calcium signals in multicellular structures composed of human endothelial cells. We consider multicellular structures composed of a single chain of cells as well as a chain of cells with a side branch, namely a "T" structure. In the experiments, we investigate the result of applying mechano-stimulation to induce signaling in the form of calcium waves along the chain and the effect of single and dual stimulation of the multicellular structure. The experimental results provide evidence of an effect of architecture on the propagation of calcium waves. Simulations based on a model of calcium-induced calcium release and cell-to-cell diffusion through gap junctions shows that the propagation of calcium waves is dependent upon the competition between intracellular calcium regulation and architecture-dependent intercellular diffusion.
authors.affiliation: Material Science and Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America. juexuanl@email.arizona.edu
authors.forename: Juexuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Junkin
authors.forename: Pak Kin
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hoying
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deymier
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004058:Diffusion; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008962:Models, Theoretical
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium