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THE USE OF A COMPUTER MODEL TO SIMULATE EPITHELIAL PATHOLOGIES
Author(s) -
RASHBASS JEREMY,
STEKEL DOV,
WILLIAMS E. DILLWYN
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9896(199607)179:3<333::aid-path584>3.0.co;2-3
Subject(s) - epidermis (zoology) , pathological , variety (cybernetics) , computer science , biology , biological system , neuroscience , pathology , artificial intelligence , anatomy , medicine
The complexity of the interactions of the many rules governing cell behaviour and the changes that lead to the pathological features seen in disease is such that linking cause and effect can be very difficult. However, the use of computers to model normal biological and pathological processes provides a powerful technique for studying the effects of the interactions of a variety of biological rules. Such an approach is strengthened by using a graphical display that simulates the organization of cells in a tissue. Skin, and specifically the epidermis, is characterized by a regular morphology and the ability to regenerate itself throughout adult life and there are considerable biological data available on the normal and pathological processes that affect this organ. A model of normal skin has been developed which shows a structure similar to normal epidermis and is capable of healing itself if damaged. This paper describes the effects on the overall structure of introducing mutations to individual rules in the model. Changes that alter cell proliferation or differentiation are introduced and the effects that these produce are compared with epidermal pathologies. Even a simple model is capable of producing insights into the types of events that may occur in a variety of dermatopathological conditions.