Mathematical model of sarcoidosis

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2014 Nov 11;111(45):16065-70. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1417789111. Epub 2014 Oct 27.

Abstract

Sarcoidosis is a disease involving abnormal collection of inflammatory cells forming nodules, called granulomas. Such granulomas occur in the lung and the mediastinal lymph nodes, in the heart, and in other vital and nonvital organs. The origin of the disease is unknown, and there are only limited clinical data on lung tissue of patients. No current model of sarcoidosis exists. In this paper we develop a mathematical model on the dynamics of the disease in the lung and use patients' lung tissue data to validate the model. The model is used to explore potential treatments.

Keywords: granuloma; math modeling; sarcoidosis.

MeSH terms

  • Granuloma / immunology
  • Granuloma / metabolism
  • Granuloma / pathology
  • Granuloma / physiopathology
  • Granuloma / therapy
  • Humans
  • Lung / immunology
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lung / physiopathology
  • Lymph Nodes / immunology
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Lymph Nodes / physiopathology
  • Mediastinum / pathology
  • Models, Immunological*
  • Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / immunology*
  • Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / metabolism
  • Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / pathology
  • Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / physiopathology*
  • Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / therapy