Combining Mathematical Models With Experimentation to Drive Novel Mechanistic Insights Into Macrophage Function.

ABSTRACT: This perspective outlines an approach to improve mechanistic understanding of macrophages in inflammation and tissue homeostasis, with a focus on human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The approach integrates wet-lab and in-silico experimentation, driven by mechanistic mathematical models of relevant biological processes. Although wet-lab experimentation with genetically modified mouse models and primary human cells and tissues have provided important insights, the role of macrophages in human IBD remains poorly understood. Key open questions include: (1) To what degree hyperinflammatory processes (e.g., gain of cytokine production) and immunodeficiency (e.g., loss of bacterial killing) intersect to drive IBD pathophysiology? and (2) What are the roles of macrophage heterogeneity in IBD o

SUBMITTER: Jansen JE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6563075 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature