Modeling atrial cells in their neighborhood - panel discussion

Olaf Doessel1, Axel Loewe2, Stefano Severi3, Ronald Wilders4, Jose F Rodriguez Matas5
1Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 2Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 3University of Bologna, 4Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 5Politecnico di Milano


Abstract

Healthy atrial cells and those with genetic defects have a statistical spread of characteristics. What happens if we couple these cells with their neighbors? Can we finally use just one „median“ cell model and get the right characteristics of atrial tissue? Some atrial cells are coupled to nodal cells (SAN and AVN). What is the proper way of modeling? In clinical cases atrial tissue contains more than just myocytes: there are myofibroblasts and collagen. What happens if we embed atrial cells into this environment? Can we construct modified cell models that depend on their environment leading to a kind of homogenization? Or do we have to move to tissue modeling in the micrometer scale? The panel will start with 2min statements of the panelists and then move into an open discussion including the audience.