Modelling different mechanisms of T -cell regulation

Abstract

The ability of the immune system to neutralise pathogens and infection is well known, but equally as important is its ability to maintain its own homeostasis via regulation of the T-cell response. Improper regulation of the immune response can develop into autoimmunity and tumour development. Despite being aware of the importance of regulation, the mechanisms at play are not yet fully understood, in part due to their complexity. To increase the understanding of the complex mechanism, mathematical models have been used to study the different interactions that could be of importance, so that they could be better understood. In this literature review several models from the past few decades of research will be examined and compared. These models vary in the mechanisms they explore, such as inhibiting activation at the APC, spatial- dependent cytokine signalling, and the creation of a local regulatory microenvironment. By examining the approaches of these different models and their findings, this review aims to give an overview of the research that has been done and propose potential future research to further the understanding of T-cell regulation.