MODEL TO STUDY INTERDEPENDENT CALCIUM AND IP3 DISTRIBUTION REGULATING NFAT PRODUCTION IN T LYMPHOCYTE

The cooperative system of calcium (Ca2+) and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) plays a crucial role in maintaining structure and functions of T lymphocyte cells including the production of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) as an immunological response. NFAT regulates several mechanisms and dysregulation in this process can lead to various disorders like inflammatory bowel diseases, etc. In this study, the two-way feedback model of Ca2+ and IP3 dynamics regulating NFAT production in T lymphocytes has been constructed. A system of nonlinear reaction-diffusion equations for calcium and IP3 for a one-dimensional case has been employed in this proposed model. The numerical simulation is performed using finite element and the Crank-Nicholson method. The effects of the parameters like Ryanodine Receptor (RyR), source amplitude and buffers on active NFAT production have been analyzed. The novel insights about regulatory and dysregulation events and mechanisms of Ca2+, IP3 and NFAT are concluded from these results.