Examining and elucidation of human weight cycle model adopting e-cell simulation system

Bioinformation. 2015 Jul 31;11(7):336-42. doi: 10.6026/97320630011336. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Cellular rhythms regulate various physiological functions in circadian oscillatory mechanisms. Weight cycling or 'yo-yo' dieting is an evitable process in human, because of subsequent loss and regain of body weight due to irregular diet. Human weight cycle (HWC) is the major factor for causing global epidemic diseases in human beings. Understanding the HWC process would provide potent additional knowledge to prevent obesity. However till date, there is no study dealing with examine the HWC model using virtual cell simulation based on system biological approach. Therefore, the present study was designed to develop a computational HWC model, which was simulated using E-cell system v3.0. The developed model has the cyclic feedback reactions of three significant variables (the consecutive cycles of weight loss in continuous food intake (Q) and regain of body weight (P) at highest threshold point of cognitive restraint (R)) which are obtained by mathematical modelling. The dynamic plot results supported that the PQR variables depicted sustained oscillation with reversible modification due to protein diet. By contrast, the virtual model simulation would provide extensive information on HWC, which might provide knowledge to develop HWC linked with obesity pathway. The presents study concludes that optimization of body weight is essential to prevent the obesity based diseases.

Keywords: E-CELL system; Goldbeter model; Human weight cycle (HWC) model; PQR; yo-yo diet.