Integrative Computational Modeling Of Calcium Handling And Cardiac Arrhythmias

Cardiomyocyte calcium handling is a major determinant of excitation-contraction coupling. Alterations in one or more calcium-handling proteins may induce arrhythmias through the formation of ectopic activity, direct and indirect ion-channel regulation, and structural remodeling. Due to the complex and tight interactions between calcium and other molecules within a cardiomyocyte, it remains experimentally challenging to study the exact contributions of calcium-handling abnormalities to arrhythmogenesis. Multiscale computational studies performed in close collaboration with laboratory experiments create new opportunities to unravel the mechanisms of arrhythmogenesis. This thesis describes the roles of integrative computational modeling in unraveling the arrhythmogenic consequences of calcium-handling abnormalities.