On the use of a coupled mathematical model for understanding the dynamics of multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterised by the attack on the myelin sheath, oligodendrocytes, and neurons by immune system cells. For this reason, MS is classified as an autoimmune and demyelinating disease. This work aims to study the influence of both the innate and adaptive immune response activation at the onset and development of MS through the coupling of two mathematical models in different compartments, both based on differential equations. The proposed model is, to the best of our knowledge, the first mathematical model based on differential equations that represent the spatio-temporal dynamics of the innate immune response activation in the brain tissue and the posterior activation of the adaptive cellular and humoral immune system responses in the lymph node through antigen presentation, culminating on the attack to the oligodendrocytes and plaque formation.