Understanding Immune Dynamics in Liver Transplant Through Mathematical Modeling

by Julia Bruner, Kyle Adams, Skylar Grey, Mahya Aghaee, Sergio Duarte, Ali Zarrinpar, and Helen Moore

Liver transplantation is a life-saving procedure for the treatment of end-stage liver disease. However, transplant recipients must take immunosuppressive medications for the rest of their lives, in order to prevent their immune system from attacking and causing damage to the donor liver (known as “rejection”). Although immunosuppressive therapies are necessary to prevent rejection, extended or excessive immunosuppression can lead to life-threatening infections or cancer. We built and analyzed a mechanistic mathematical model to study the immune dynamics involved in the balance between immunosuppression and rejection. Our model identified dynamics between the following quantities as most critical to this immune balance: a type of immune cell called cytotoxic T cells; the inflammation-modulating protein interleukin-2 and the transplanted liver itself. 

Graphical abstract of the study.