Glucagon and insulin production in pancreatic cells modeled using Petri nets and Boolean networks
Journal:
arXiv
Published Date:
Apr 30, 2025
Abstract
Diabetes is a civilization chronic disease characterized by a constant
elevated concentration of glucose in the blood. Many processes are involved in
the glucose regulation, and their interactions are very complex. To better
understand those processes we set ourselves a goal to create a Petri net model
of the glucose regulation in the whole body. So far we have managed to create a
model of glycolysis and synthesis of glucose in the liver, and the general
overview models of the glucose regulation in a healthy and diabetic person. In
this paper we introduce Petri nets models of insulin secretion in beta cell of
the pancreas, and glucagon in the pancreas alpha cells. Those two hormones have
mutually opposite effects: insulin preventing hyperglycemia, and glucagon
preventing hypoglycemia. Understanding the mechanisms of insulin and glucagon
secretion constitutes the basis for understanding diabetes. We also present a
model in which both processes occur together, depending on the blood glucose
level. The dynamics of each model is analysed. Additionally, we transform the
overall insulin and glucagon secretion system to a Boolean network, following
standard transformation rules.
