title: Parallel processing in immune networks.
abstract: In this work, we adopt a statistical-mechanics approach to investigate basic, systemic features exhibited by adaptive immune systems. The lymphocyte network made by B cells and T cells is modeled by a bipartite spin glass, where, following biological prescriptions, links connecting B cells and T cells are sparse. Interestingly, the dilution performed on links is shown to make the system able to orchestrate parallel strategies to fight several pathogens at the same time; this multitasking capability constitutes a remarkable, key property of immune systems as multiple antigens are always present within the host. We also define the stochastic process ruling the temporal evolution of lymphocyte activity and show its relaxation toward an equilibrium measure allowing statistical-mechanics investigations. Analytical results are compared with Monte Carlo simulations and signal-to-noise outcomes showing overall excellent agreement. Finally, within our model, a rationale for the experimentally well-evidenced correlation between lymphocytosis and autoimmunity is achieved; this sheds further light on the systemic features exhibited by immune networks.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Parma, viale G. Usberti 7, 43100 Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Agliari
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barra
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bartolucci
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galluzzi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moauro
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology; D008218:Lymphocytosis / Q000276:immunology; D018448:Models, Immunological