Effects of disorders in interdependent calcium and IP3 dynamics on nitric oxide production in a neuron cell

Calcium ([Ca 2+ ]), IP 3 , and nitric oxide (NO) play a significant role in cell signaling to maintain various physiological functions. Calcium and IP 3 regulation has been investigated independently in a variety of cells like myocyte, hepatocyte, and neuron cells. However, very little attention has been paid to the study of interdependent calcium and IP 3 dynamics regulating nitric oxide production in neurons and other cells. Nitric oxide and its derivatives are reported to be involved in the pathogenic process leading to neurogenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disease. The production of nitric oxide depends on the calcium dynamics in a neuron cell. Therefore a model is proposed to study the regulatory and dysregulatory effects of interdependent calcium and IP 3 dynamics in a neuron cell. The system of reaction–diffusion equations for calcium and IP 3 is coupled with the production of nitric oxide in a neuron cell to formulate an initial boundary value problem. The finite element simulation is performed to obtain results for regulatory and dysregulatory conditions of interdependent calcium and IP 3 dynamics along with nitric oxide production in the cell. It is observed that disorders in mechanisms of calcium dynamics are balanced to some extent by IP3 dynamics. The dysregulation of calcium or IP3 dynamics causes an increase or decrease in nitric oxide production in the cell, which can lead to various neurodegenerative disorders. The information obtained from the present study can be used in the development of diagnostic and therapeutic measures.