Abstract
The immune system is composed of many different cell types and hundreds of intersecting molecular pathways and signals. This large biological complexity requires coordination between distinct pro-inflammatory and regulatory cell subsets to respond to infection while maintaining tissue homeostasis. CD4+ T cells play a central role in orchestrating immune responses and in maintaining a balance between pro- and anti- inflammatory responses. This tight balance between regulatory and effector reactions depends on the ability of CD4+ T cells to modulate distinct pathways within large molecular networks, since dysregulated CD4+ T cell responses may result in chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The CD4+ T cell differentiation process comprises an intricate interplay between cytokines, their receptors, adaptor molecules, signaling cascades and transcription factors that help delineate cell fate and function. Computational modeling can help to describe, simulate, analyze, and predict some of the behaviors in this complicated differentiation network. This review provides a comprehensive overview of existing computational immunology methods as well as novel strategies used to model immune responses with a particular focus on CD4+ T cell differentiation.
Highlights
The human immune system consists of two main behavioral and functional waves: first, the innate immune response provides a first barrier against foreign elements and second, the adaptive immune system builds an effective and specific immune response to combat such elements
This review provides a comprehensive overview of existing computational immunology methods as well as novel strategies used to model immune responses with a particular focus on CD4+ T cell differentiation
Mature CD4+ T cells translocate into the secondary lymphoid organs, such as the lymph nodes or the spleen, where they are involved in immune surveillance through interaction with MHC-II molecules expressed on the surface of antigenpresenting cells (Drayton et al, 2006)
Summary
Adria Carbo 1,2, Raquel Hontecillas 1,2, Tricity Andrew 1,2, Kristin Eden 1,2, Yongguo Mei 1,2, Stefan Hoops 2 and Josep Bassaganya-Riera 1,2,3*. The immune system is composed of many different cell types and hundreds of intersecting molecular pathways and signals. This large biological complexity requires coordination between distinct pro-inflammatory and regulatory cell subsets to respond to infection while maintaining tissue homeostasis. CD4+ T cells play a central role in orchestrating immune responses and in maintaining a balance between pro- and anti- inflammatory responses. This tight balance between regulatory and effector reactions depends on the ability of CD4+ T cells to modulate distinct pathways within large molecular networks, since dysregulated CD4+ T cell responses may result in chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
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