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Am J Physiol Cell Physiol (April 25, 2007). doi:10.1152/ajpcell.00542.2006
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Submitted on October 22, 2006
Accepted on March 20, 2007

A mathematical model of plasma membrane electrophysiology and calcium dynamics in vascular endothelial cells

Haroldo S Silva1, Adam Kapela1, and Nikolaos Michael Tsoukias1*

1 Biomedical Engineering, Florida International U., Miami, Florida, United States

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: tsoukias{at}fiu.edu.

Vascular endothelial cells (ECs) modulate smooth muscle cell (SMC) contractility, assisting in vascular tone regulation. Cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and membrane potential (Vm) play important roles in this process by controlling EC-dependent vasoactive signals and intercellular communication. The present mathematical model integrates plasmalemma electrophysiology and Ca2+ dynamics to investigate EC responses to different stimuli and the controversial relationship between [Ca2+]i and Vm. The model contains descriptions for the intracellular balance of major ionic species and the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. It also expands previous formulations by including more detailed transmembrane current descriptions. The model reproduces Vm responses to volume-regulated anion channel (VRAC) blockers and extracellular K+ ([K+]o) challenges, predicting a) that Vm changes upon VRAC blockade are [K+]o-dependent and b) a biphasic response of Vm to increasing [K+]o. Simulations of agonist-induced Ca2+ mobilization replicate experiments under control and Vm hyperpolarization blockade conditions. They show that peak [Ca2+]i is governed by store Ca2+ release while Ca2+ influx (and consequently Vm) impacts more the resting and plateau [Ca2+]i. The Vm-sensitivity of rest and plateau [Ca2+]i is dictated by a [Ca2+]i "buffering" system capable of masking the Vm-dependent transmembrane Ca2+ influx. Model predicts PMCA and Ca2+ permeability as main players in this process. The heterogeneous Vm impact on [Ca2+]i may elucidate conflicting reports on how Vm influences EC Ca2+. The present study forms the basis for the development of multicellular EC-SMC models that can assist in understanding vascular autoregulation in health and disease.







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