How T-cells use large deviations to recognize foreign antigens.
A stochastic model for the activation of T-cells is analysed. T-cells are part of the immune system and recognize foreign antigens against a background of the body's own molecules. The model under consideration is a slight generalization of a model introduced by Van den Berg et al. (J Theor Biol 209:465-486, 2001), and is capable of explaining how this recognition works on the basis of rare stochastic events. With the help of a refined large deviation theorem and numerical evaluation it is shown that, for a wide range of parameters, T-cells can distinguish reliably between foreign antigens and self-antigens.
Zint
Natali
N
Technische Fakultät, Universität Bielefeld, Postfach 100131, 33501 Bielefeld, Germany. nzint@techfak.uni-bielefeld.de
Baake
Ellen
E
den Hollander
Frank
F
D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D015478:Antigens, Heterophile / Q000276:immunology*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008433:Mathematics; D018448:Models, Immunological; D013269:Stochastic Processes; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D015478:Antigens, Heterophile; D001324:Autoantigens