Design of immune-based interventions in autoimmunity and viral infections--the need for predictive models that...

The outcome of both autoimmune reactions and antiviral responses depends on a complex network of multiple components of the immune system. For example, most immune reactions can be viewed as a balance of aggressive and regulatory processes. Thus, a component of the immune system that has beneficial effects in one situation might have detrimental effects elsewhere: organ-specific immunity and autoimmunity are both governed by this paradigm. Additionally, the precise timing and magnitude of an immune response can frequently be more critical than its composition for determining efficacy as well as damage. These issues make the design of immune-based interventions very difficult, because it is frequently impossible to predict the outcome. For example, certain cytokines can either cure or worsen autoimmune processes depending on their dose and timing in relation to the ongoing disease process. Consequently, there is a strong need for models that can predict the outcome of immune-based interventions taking these considerations into account.