A Mathematical Model for Assessing Changes in Neurofilament Protein Levels in Neurites and Cell Bodies of Differentiating Neuroblastoma Cells

A mathematical model which allows the calculation of the level of neurofilament protein in the cell body (x) and in the neurites (y) of differentiating SK-N-SH cells is presented. The model considers the changes in cell number (proliferating cells) and the number of cells with neurites (differentiat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of theoretical biology 2000-07, Vol.205 (2), p.241-252
Main Authors: FLETCHER, LYNDA, MCFARLANE, ELIZABETH, FLETCHER, KEITH, GRANT, PAUL A.A, CAMPBELL, IAIN C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cell Differentiation
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Humans
Models, Neurological
Neurites - metabolism
Neuroblastoma - metabolism
Neuroblastoma - pathology
Neurofilament Proteins - metabolism
Tumor Cells, Cultured
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Summary:A mathematical model which allows the calculation of the level of neurofilament protein in the cell body (x) and in the neurites (y) of differentiating SK-N-SH cells is presented. The model considers the changes in cell number (proliferating cells) and the number of cells with neurites (differentiating cells). It takes into account the fact that (i) when cells are cultured in differentiating conditions, an increase in cell number is initially observed and (ii) in a non-synchronized population of differentiating cells, the length of neurite extended by individual cells varies within the population. Total neurofilament protein levels in a population of cells were measured by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbant assay and application of the model to the data allowed values for x and y to be calculated. The validity of the model is supported by the fact that the predicted total neurofilament protein levels are highly correlated with the experimentally derived neurofilament protein levels. The model should be of use in temporal studies of cytoskeletal proteins involved in neuronal growth/differentiation and also in studies in which the system is a target of toxic insult.
ISSN:0022-5193
1095-8541
DOI:10.1006/jtbi.2000.2059