A model of the immune network with B-T cell co-operation. I--Prototypical structures and dynamics

Journal of Theoretical Biology
J CarneiroJ Stewart

Abstract

Hitherto, "second generation" network models of the immune system have all been restricted to B-lymphocytes and the Ig molecules they produce. These models have not so far been able to provide a convincing mechanism for the distinction between a "Central Immune System" (CIS) composed of a connected network of lymphocyte clones which couple with "self" antigens in a tolerant mode, and a "Peripheral Immune System" (PIS) composed of clones with little or no supra-clonal organization and which produce classical immune responses when interacting with "non-self" antigens. Here, we present a new network model which explicitly incorporates B-T cell co-operation. In this model, B-cell activation is dependent on T-cell help, and activated T-cells are down-regulated by engagement of their TCRs by soluble Ig. We discuss the underlying biology on which we base the system of ordinary differential equations which defines the present network model. We then illustrate some basic features of the model by examining several prototypical situations with a small number of clones. Depending on the idiotypic connectivity structure, the model exhibits two distinct modes of coupling with antigens: an "immune response" mode in which T- and B-cell clones ...Continue Reading

Citations

Feb 15, 2008·Journal of Computational Biology : a Journal of Computational Molecular Cell Biology·C BidotC Lambert
Aug 28, 1999·International Immunology·C BrissacJ Stewart
Jul 13, 2004·Artificial Life·John Stewart, Antonio Coutinho
Jan 21, 2000·Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIA·J H Carter
Aug 21, 2014·BioMed Research International·Bárbara de M QuintelaMarcelo Lobosco
Oct 20, 2014·Journal of Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics·Timothy P HicklingSatyaprakash Nayak
Apr 29, 1998·European Journal of Immunology·R VasconcellosA Coutinho

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