A new library of HEMET model: Insulin effects on hepatic metabolism
Prediction and simulation of cell culture behaviour, under different chemical and physical stimuli by a mathematical model, represent an innovative way to create a virtual cell laboratory, where it is possible to perform and optimize experimental protocol, saving time and money. In silico experiments permit to reproduce pathological and physiological situations and make toxicological tests. In this paper we introduce a new library of HEMET (HEpatocyte METabolism) software that allows the insulin effects on hepatic metabolism to be simulated. This new set of nonlinear differential equations, derived from biochemical reactions which involve this pancreatic hormone, allows the catabolites concentration in hepatic cell culture after insulin infusion to be predicted. The validation procedures were carried out using data obtained from specifically designed cell experiments and from literature. A user friendly interface allows to easily change model parameters, rate constants and inputs simulating a wide range of physiological and pathological scenarios.
acc acetil-coa carboxilase akt see pkb ampk adenosine monophosphate kinase ba binding affinity fas fatty acid synthase ffa free fatty acids gk glucokinase glut-2 insulin-dependent glucose transporter glut-4 insulin-regulated glucose transporter found in adipose tissues and striated muscle gs glycogen synthase gsk-3 glycogen synthase kinase hemet hepatocyte metabolism ins-r insulin receptor irs insulin receptor substrate ml-9 myosin light chain kinase pdh pyruvate dehydrogenase complex pdk independent phosphoinositide kinase protein pfk phosphofructokinase pi3 k phosphatydilinositol triphosphate kinase pi(3 4)p2 phosphatydilinositol (3 4) bisphosphate 4 5)p3 phosphatydilinositol (3 5) triphosphate pkb protein kinase b pkc protein kinase c pp1 protein phosphatase 1 ptp protein tirosine phosphatase pyk pyruvate kinase