Modeling and Analysis of UVB Influence on IL-1 induced NF-kappaB Signaling

Enhancement of UVB-induced apoptosis has recently been reported upon co-stimulation of cells with IL-1. The phenomenon has been shown to be NF-kappaB dependent and coincides with a sustained absence of the inhibitor of NF-kappaB, IkappaBalpha. The exact mechanisms are the subject of present research. In order to investigate the behavior of IkappaBalpha, a mathematical model for the IL-1 receptor is developed based on ordinary differential equations. It is coupled with an existing NF-kappaB signaling module and parameterized using experimental and literature data. The model provides a more realistic input for the NF-kappaB module and is suitable for fitting the experimental data of IkappaBalpha following IL-1 stimulation. It is used to test and reject the hypothesis that the sustained absence of IkappaBalpha upon IL-1+UVB stimulation is due to an altered internalization behavior of the IL-1 receptor.