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An in silico model of Regulatory T cell function
Author(s) -
Taylor Paul,
Herrath Matthias
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.848.19
Subject(s) - in silico , mechanism (biology) , immune system , biology , function (biology) , immunology , in vitro , in vivo , immunity , computational biology , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , gene , philosophy , epistemology
Regulatory T (Treg) cells participate in response to infection primarily involve chronic or persistent viral infections. The findings that Treg cells influence the functional immunity during viral infections however might indicate that in some cases, virus‐specific Treg cells not only influence immune pathology or prevent pathogen elimination but also can promote a generalized state of immuno‐suppression in vivo, such that the host is more susceptible to secondary infections with other pathogens or has reduced tumour resistance. The regulatory mechanism by which Tregs act has yet to be definitively characterized with opposing evidence suggesting either a cell‐to‐cell a cytokine mediated mechanism. We have developed a cellular model that is an in silico representation of the cells of the immune system. The model aims to faithfully reproduce these cells and their interactions with cognate rule sets derived from experimentation. This stochastic simulation of a Treg suppression assay which can be used to investigate the possible mechanisms behind their immuno‐suppressive effect. The model can rapidly simulate a large number of assays under a wide range of parameters and the detailed results allow for the analysis of the parameters at a detail level currently impossible in vitro . The insights obtained by using the automaton provide a powerful tool for directing in vitro research in to Treg function.