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In-Depth Information
Higher
layers
Hidden
layers
−
+
Anti-anti-idiotypes
−
+
+
−
−
+
Anti-idiotypes
−
+
+
−
Epitope-responding cells
Input
−
output
layer
Epitopes
Antigen
"?"
Possible connections
The Jerne network
Figure 2.4 The immune system as a neural network. (From Vertosick, F. T. and
R. H. Kelly,
J. Theoretical Biol.,
150, 225-237, 1991; Vertosick, F. T., and R. H.
Kelly,
Immunology
, 66, 1-7, 1989)
performs many critical immunological functions by providing a specialized micro-
environment for proliferation of B cells through clonal expansion and somatic
hypermutations (Celada and Seiden, 1996; Jacob et al., 1991; Kepler and Perelson,
1993; Leanderson et al., 1986; Liu et al., 1989), giving rise to plasma and memory
B cells. Details of GC formation are covered in Chapter 1.
h e GC initially contains only dividing centroblasts (Camacho et al., 1998),
but shortly evolves into dark and light zones (Liu et al., 1989). Figure 2.5 shows the
GC mechanisms, where the dark and light zones are involved in clonal expansion
and clonal selection, respectively.
h ere are several mathematical models (diff erential equations) developed to
simulate the GC dynamics (Kesmir and Boer, 1999). For example, the OP model
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