A mathematical model for the immunosenescence
Luciani, F.; Turchetti, G.; Franceschi, C.; Valensin, S.
Rivista di Biologia 94(2): 305-318
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0035-6050 PMID: 11702654 Document Number: 530510
We propose a model for the dynamics of the immune system by considering the subpopulations of virgin and memory T lymphocytes on a time scale corresponding to the human life span. In the deterministic balance equation we introduce a fluctuating term in order to take into account the chronic antigenic stress. Starting from the hypothesis that the depletion of virgin cells with cytotoxic properties (CD8+) is a mortality marker, the model provides survival curves quite similar to the demographic curves.