A mathematical model for a T cell fate decision algorithm during immune response.
J Theor Biol
; 349: 109-20, 2014 May 21.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-24512913
ABSTRACT
We formulate and analyze an algorithm of cell fate decision that describes the way in which division vs. apoptosis choices are made by individual T cells during an infection. Such model involves a minimal number of known biochemical mechanisms it basically relies on the interplay between cell division and cell death inhibitors on one hand, and membrane receptors on the other. In spite of its simplicity, the proposed decision algorithm is able to account for some significant facts in immune response. At the individual level, the existence of T cells that continue to replicate in the absence of antigen and the possible occurrence of T cell apoptosis in the presence of antigen are predicted by the model. Moreover, the latter is shown to yield an emergent collective behavior, the observed delay in clonal contraction with respect to the end of antigen stimulation, which is shown to arise just from individual T cell decisions made according to the proposed mechanism.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Algorithms
/
T-Lymphocytes
/
Models, Immunological
/
Cell Lineage
/
Immunity
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
J Theor Biol
Year:
2014
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Spain