Mathematical modelling of immune regulation of type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is a disease characterized by progressive loss of β cell function due to an autoimmune reaction affecting the islets of Langerhans. Two types of T cells are involved in diabetes: turncoat auto-reactive T cells, or T cells gone bad, that kill the insulin-producing cells, and regulatory T cells that are unable to control the auto-reactive T cells. We formulate a mathematical model that incorporates the role of cytotoxic T cells and regulatory T cells in type 1 diabetes. This study shows that onset of type 1 diabetes is due to a collective, dynamical instability, rather than being caused by a single etiological factor. It is also a numbers game between regulatory T cells and auto-reactive T cells. The problem in the onset of this disease is that there are not enough of the regulatory cells that suppress the immune response against the body's insulin-producing pancreatic islet cells.
Magombedze
Gesham
G
Department of Applied Mathematics, National University of Science and Technology, PO Box AC939 Ascot, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. gmagombedze@gmail.com
Nduru
Polite
P
Bhunu
Claver P
CP
Mushayabasa
Steady
S
D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000276:immunology*; D018448:Models, Immunological; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology