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Understanding the roles of activation threshold and infections in the dynamics of autoimmune disease
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 21:52 authored by Konstantin BlyussKonstantin Blyuss, L B NicholsonOnset and development of autoimmunity have been attributed to a number of factors, including genetic predisposition, age and different environmental factors. In this paper we discuss mathematical models of autoimmunity with an emphasis on two particular aspects of immune dynamics: breakdown of immune tolerance in response to an infection with a pathogen, and interactions between T cells with different activation thresholds. We illustrate how the explicit account of T cells with different activation thresholds provides a viable model of immune dynamics able to reproduce several types of immune behaviour, including normal clearance of infection, emergence of a chronic state, and development of a recurrent infection with autoimmunity. We discuss a number of open research problems that can be addressed within the same modelling framework.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Published version
Journal
Journal of Theoretical BiologyISSN
0022-5193Publisher
ElsevierExternal DOI
Volume
375Page range
13-20Department affiliated with
- Mathematics Publications
Full text available
- No
Peer reviewed?
- Yes