1
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Ashmore-Harris C, Antonopoulou E, Aird RE, Man TY, Finney SM, Speel AM, Lu WY, Forbes SJ, Gadd VL, Waters SL. Utilising an in silico model to predict outcomes in senescence-driven acute liver injury. NPJ Regen Med 2024; 9:26. [PMID: 39349489 PMCID: PMC11442582 DOI: 10.1038/s41536-024-00371-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2024] [Indexed: 10/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Currently liver transplantation is the only treatment option for liver disease, but organ availability cannot meet patient demand. Alternative regenerative therapies, including cell transplantation, aim to modulate the injured microenvironment from inflammation and scarring towards regeneration. The complexity of the liver injury response makes it challenging to identify suitable therapeutic targets when relying on experimental approaches alone. Therefore, we adopted a combined in vivo-in silico approach and developed an ordinary differential equation model of acute liver disease able to predict the host response to injury and potential interventions. The Mdm2fl/fl mouse model of senescence-driven liver injury was used to generate a quantitative dynamic characterisation of the key cellular players (macrophages, endothelial cells, myofibroblasts) and extra cellular matrix involved in liver injury. This was qualitatively captured by the mathematical model. The mathematical model was then used to predict injury outcomes in response to milder and more severe levels of senescence-induced liver injury and validated with experimental in vivo data. In silico experiments using the validated model were then performed to interrogate potential approaches to enhance regeneration. These predicted that increasing the rate of macrophage phenotypic switch or increasing the number of pro-regenerative macrophages in the system will accelerate the rate of senescent cell clearance and resolution. These results showcase the potential benefits of mechanistic mathematical modelling for capturing the dynamics of complex biological systems and identifying therapeutic interventions that may enhance our understanding of injury-repair mechanisms and reduce translational bottlenecks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candice Ashmore-Harris
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Rhona E Aird
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Tak Yung Man
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Simon M Finney
- Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Annelijn M Speel
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Wei-Yu Lu
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration & Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Stuart J Forbes
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Victoria L Gadd
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Sarah L Waters
- Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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2
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Bouguéon M, Legagneux V, Hazard O, Bomo J, Siegel A, Feret J, Théret N. A rule-based multiscale model of hepatic stellate cell plasticity: Critical role of the inactivation loop in fibrosis progression. PLoS Comput Biol 2024; 20:e1011858. [PMID: 39074160 PMCID: PMC11309422 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 08/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) are the source of extracellular matrix (ECM) whose overproduction leads to fibrosis, a condition that impairs liver functions in chronic liver diseases. Understanding the dynamics of HSCs will provide insights needed to develop new therapeutic approaches. Few models of hepatic fibrosis have been proposed, and none of them include the heterogeneity of HSC phenotypes recently highlighted by single-cell RNA sequencing analyses. Here, we developed rule-based models to study HSC dynamics during fibrosis progression and reversion. We used the Kappa graph rewriting language, for which we used tokens and counters to overcome temporal explosion. HSCs are modeled as agents that present seven physiological cellular states and that interact with (TGFβ1) molecules which regulate HSC activation and the secretion of type I collagen, the main component of the ECM. Simulation studies revealed the critical role of the HSC inactivation process during fibrosis progression and reversion. While inactivation allows elimination of activated HSCs during reversion steps, reactivation loops of inactivated HSCs (iHSCs) are required to sustain fibrosis. Furthermore, we demonstrated the model's sensitivity to (TGFβ1) parameters, suggesting its adaptability to a variety of pathophysiological conditions for which levels of (TGFβ1) production associated with the inflammatory response differ. Using new experimental data from a mouse model of CCl4-induced liver fibrosis, we validated the predicted ECM dynamics. Our model also predicts the accumulation of iHSCs during chronic liver disease. By analyzing RNA sequencing data from patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) associated with liver fibrosis, we confirmed this accumulation, identifying iHSCs as novel markers of fibrosis progression. Overall, our study provides the first model of HSC dynamics in chronic liver disease that can be used to explore the regulatory role of iHSCs in liver homeostasis. Moreover, our model can also be generalized to fibroblasts during repair and fibrosis in other tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthieu Bouguéon
- Univ Rennes, Inria, CNRS, IRISA, UMR 6074, Rennes, France
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset, UMR S1085, Rennes, France
| | | | - Octave Hazard
- École Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France
- DI-ENS (Inria, ÉNS, CNRS, PSL University), École normale supérieure, Paris, France
| | - Jérémy Bomo
- Univ Rennes, Inria, CNRS, IRISA, UMR 6074, Rennes, France
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset, UMR S1085, Rennes, France
| | - Anne Siegel
- Univ Rennes, Inria, CNRS, IRISA, UMR 6074, Rennes, France
| | - Jérôme Feret
- DI-ENS (Inria, ÉNS, CNRS, PSL University), École normale supérieure, Paris, France
- Team Antique, Inria, Paris, France
| | - Nathalie Théret
- Univ Rennes, Inria, CNRS, IRISA, UMR 6074, Rennes, France
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset, UMR S1085, Rennes, France
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3
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Akshey, Singh TR. Analysis of the human liver model through semi-analytical and numerical techniques with non-singular kernel. Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Engin 2024:1-13. [PMID: 38556900 DOI: 10.1080/10255842.2024.2332370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
This work consists of the study of the time-fractional human liver model with the Caputo-Fabrizio fractional derivative. The existence and uniqueness of the proposed model are shown using fixed point theory. Also, the stability of the considered model is shown using the Ulam Hyres theorem and the Lyapunov function. The solution of the proposed model is obtained using a semi-analytical and numerical scheme. The series solution obtained from the semi-analytical method gives the proper result at any time, similarly, the numerical scheme gives the solution for a long time. The obtained numerical results are compared with real clinical data and earlier published work and found to be very close to real data than earlier published work. Results in the graphs and tables show that the proposed fractional-order model is superior to the traditional model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akshey
- Department of Mathematics, Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat, Gujarat, India
| | - Twinkle R Singh
- Department of Mathematics, Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat, Gujarat, India
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4
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Zhao J, Ghallab A, Hassan R, Dooley S, Hengstler JG, Drasdo D. A liver digital twin for in silico testing of cellular and inter-cellular mechanisms in regeneration after drug-induced damage. iScience 2024; 27:108077. [PMID: 38371522 PMCID: PMC10869925 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
This communication presents a mathematical mechanism-based model of the regenerating liver after drug-induced pericentral lobule damage resolving tissue microarchitecture. The consequence of alternative hypotheses about the interplay of different cell types on regeneration was simulated. Regeneration dynamics has been quantified by the size of the damage-induced dead cell area, the hepatocyte density and the spatial-temporal profile of the different cell types. We use deviations of observed trajectories from the simulated system to identify branching points, at which the systems behavior cannot be explained by the underlying set of hypotheses anymore. Our procedure reflects a successful strategy for generating a fully digital liver twin that, among others, permits to test perturbations from the molecular up to the tissue scale. The model simulations are complementing current knowledge on liver regeneration by identifying gaps in mechanistic relationships and guiding the system toward the most informative (lacking) parameters that can be experimentally addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieling Zhao
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Technical University of Dortmund (IfADo), 44139 Dortmund, Germany
- Group SIMBIOTX, INRIA Saclay, 91120 Palaiseau, France
| | - Ahmed Ghallab
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Technical University of Dortmund (IfADo), 44139 Dortmund, Germany
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena 83523, Egypt
| | - Reham Hassan
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Technical University of Dortmund (IfADo), 44139 Dortmund, Germany
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena 83523, Egypt
| | - Steven Dooley
- Molecular Hepatology Section, Department of Medicine II, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Jan Georg Hengstler
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Technical University of Dortmund (IfADo), 44139 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Dirk Drasdo
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Technical University of Dortmund (IfADo), 44139 Dortmund, Germany
- Group SIMBIOTX, INRIA Saclay, 91120 Palaiseau, France
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5
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Bhatter S, Jangid K, Kumawat S, Baleanu D, Purohit SD, Suthar DL. A new investigation on fractionalized modeling of human liver. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1636. [PMID: 38238352 PMCID: PMC10796951 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-51430-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
This study focuses on improving the accuracy of assessing liver damage and early detection for improved treatment strategies. In this study, we examine the human liver using a modified Atangana-Baleanu fractional derivative based on the mathematical model to understand and predict the behavior of the human liver. The iteration method and fixed-point theory are used to investigate the presence of a unique solution in the new model. Furthermore, the homotopy analysis transform method, whose convergence is also examined, implements the mathematical model. Finally, numerical testing is performed to demonstrate the findings better. According to real clinical data comparison, the new fractional model outperforms the classical integer-order model with coherent temporal derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjay Bhatter
- Department of Mathematics, Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur, Jaipur, India
| | - Kamlesh Jangid
- Department of Mathematics, Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer, India
| | - Shyamsunder Kumawat
- Department of Mathematics, Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur, Jaipur, India
| | - Dumitru Baleanu
- Department of Computer Science and Mathematics, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon
- Institute of Space Sciences, Magurele-Bucharest, Romania
| | - Sunil Dutt Purohit
- Department of Computer Science and Mathematics, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon
- Department of HEAS (Mathematics), Rajasthan Technical University, Kota, India
| | - Daya Lal Suthar
- Department of Mathematics, Wollo University, P.O. Box 1145, Dessie, Ethiopia.
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6
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Olivença DV, Davis JD, Kumbale CM, Zhao CY, Brown SP, McCarty NA, Voit EO. Mathematical models of cystic fibrosis as a systemic disease. WIREs Mech Dis 2023; 15:e1625. [PMID: 37544654 PMCID: PMC10843793 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is widely known as a disease of the lung, even though it is in truth a systemic disease, whose symptoms typically manifest in gastrointestinal dysfunction first. CF ultimately impairs not only the pancreas and intestine but also the lungs, gonads, liver, kidneys, bones, and the cardiovascular system. It is caused by one of several mutations in the gene of the epithelial ion channel protein CFTR. Intense research and improved antimicrobial treatments during the past eight decades have steadily increased the predicted life expectancy of a person with CF (pwCF) from a few weeks to over 50 years. Moreover, several drugs ameliorating the sequelae of the disease have become available in recent years, and notable treatments of the root cause of the disease have recently generated substantial improvements in health for some but not all pwCF. Yet, numerous fundamental questions remain unanswered. Complicating CF, for instance in the lung, is the fact that the associated insufficient chloride secretion typically perturbs the electrochemical balance across epithelia and, in the airways, leads to the accumulation of thick, viscous mucus and mucus plaques that cannot be cleared effectively and provide a rich breeding ground for a spectrum of bacterial and fungal communities. The subsequent infections often become chronic and respond poorly to antibiotic treatments, with outcomes sometimes only weakly correlated with the drug susceptibility of the target pathogen. Furthermore, in contrast to rapidly resolved acute infections with a single target pathogen, chronic infections commonly involve multi-species bacterial communities, called "infection microbiomes," that develop their own ecological and evolutionary dynamics. It is presently impossible to devise mathematical models of CF in its entirety, but it is feasible to design models for many of the distinct drivers of the disease. Building upon these growing yet isolated modeling efforts, we discuss in the following the feasibility of a multi-scale modeling framework, known as template-and-anchor modeling, that allows the gradual integration of refined sub-models with different granularity. The article first reviews the most important biomedical aspects of CF and subsequently describes mathematical modeling approaches that already exist or have the potential to deepen our understanding of the multitude aspects of the disease and their interrelationships. The conceptual ideas behind the approaches proposed here do not only pertain to CF but are translatable to other systemic diseases. This article is categorized under: Congenital Diseases > Computational Models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel V. Olivença
- Center for Engineering Innovation, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W. Campbell Road, Richardson, Texas 75080, USA
| | - Jacob D. Davis
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Carla M. Kumbale
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Conan Y. Zhao
- Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Samuel P. Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, Georgia Tech and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Nael A. McCarty
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Eberhard O. Voit
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
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7
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Bahram Yazdroudi F, Malek A. Optimal controlling of anti-TGF-[Formula: see text] and anti-PDGF medicines for preventing pulmonary fibrosis. Sci Rep 2023; 13:15073. [PMID: 37699920 PMCID: PMC10497573 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41294-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
In the repair of injury, some transforming growth factor-[Formula: see text]s (TGF-[Formula: see text]s) and platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) bind to fibroblast receptors as ligands and cause the differentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts. When the injury repair is repeated, the myofibroblasts proliferate excessively, forming fibrotic tissue. We goal to control myofibroblasts proliferation and apoptosis with anti-transforming growth factor-[Formula: see text] (anti-TGF-[Formula: see text]) and anti-platelet-derived growth factor (anti-PDGF) medicines. The novel optimal regulator control problem with two controls (medicines) is proposed to simulate how to the preventing pulmonary fibrosis. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) consists of restoring a system of cells, protein, and tissue networks with injury and scar. Myofibroblasts proliferation back to its equilibrium position after it has been disturbed by abnormal repair. Thus, the optimal regulator control problem with a parabolic partial differential equation as a constraint, zero flux boundary, and given specific initial conditions, is considered. The myofibroblast diffusion equation stands as a governing dynamic system while the objective function is the summation of myofibroblast, anti-TGF-[Formula: see text] and anti-PDGF medicines for the fixed final time. Here, myofibroblast is a nonlinear state of time while anti-TGF-[Formula: see text] and anti-PDGF are two unknown control functions. In order to solve the corresponding problem a weighted Galerkin method is used. Firstly, we convert the myofibroblast diffusion equation to a system of ordinary differential equations using the Lagrangian interpolation polynomials defined at Gauss-Lobatto integration points. Secondly, by the calculus of variations, the optimal control problem is solved successfully using canonical Hamiltonian and extended Riccati equations. Numerical results are given, and the plots are depicted. Moreover, solutions to the problem in which there is no control are compared. Numerical results show that, over time, the myofibroblast increases and then remains constant when there is no control. In contrast, the current solution decreases and vanishes after 300 days by prescribing controller medicines for anti-TGF-[Formula: see text] and anti-PDGF. The optimal strategy proposed in this paper helps practitioners to reduce myofibroblasts by controlling both anti-TGF-[Formula: see text] and anti-PDGF medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Bahram Yazdroudi
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Faculty of Mathematical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alaeddin Malek
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Faculty of Mathematical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
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8
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Zhao J, Li X, Xu Y, Li Y, Zheng L, Luan T. Toxic effects of long-term dual or single exposure to oxytetracycline and arsenic on Xenopus tropicalis living in duck wastewater. J Environ Sci (China) 2023; 127:431-440. [PMID: 36522075 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2022.05.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Direct discharge of aquaculture wastewater may have toxic effects, due to the presence of heavy metals, antibiotics, and even resistant pathogens, but little attention has been given. Here, tanks simulating a wild ecosystem were built to study the effects of long-term exposure to duck wastewater containing oxytetracycline (OTC) and/or arsenic (As) on the growth, physiological function, and gut microbiota evolution of Xenopus tropicalis. The results showed that duck wastewater had no apparent impact on X. tropicalis, but the impact increased significantly (P < 0.05) with exposure to OTC and/or As, especially the impact on body weight and growth rate. Biochemical indicators revealed varying degrees of oxidative stress damage, hepatotoxicity (inflammation, necrosis, and sinusoids), and collagen fibrosis of X. tropicalis in all treated groups after 72 days of exposure, which indirectly inhibited X. tropicalis growth. Moreover, 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing results showed that the gut microbiota structure and metabolic function were perturbed after chronic exposure, which might be the leading cause of growth inhibition. Interestingly, the abundance of intestinal resistance genes (RGs) increased with exposure time owing to the combined direct and indirect effects of stress factors in duck wastewater. Moreover, once the RGs were expressed, the resistance persisted for at least 24 days, especially that conferred by tetA. These results provide evidence of the toxic effects of DW containing OTC (0.1-4.0 mg/L) and/or As (0.3-3.5 µg/L) on amphibians and indicate that it is vital to limit the usage of heavy metals and antibiotics on farms to control the biotoxicity of wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianbin Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Water Quality Improvement and Ecological Restoration for Watersheds, Institute of Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xinyan Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Water Quality Improvement and Ecological Restoration for Watersheds, Institute of Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yanbin Xu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Analysis and Test Center, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Yuxin Li
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Li Zheng
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Tiangang Luan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Water Quality Improvement and Ecological Restoration for Watersheds, Institute of Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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9
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Dunster JL, Gibbins JM, Nelson MR. Exploring the constituent mechanisms of hepatitis: a dynamical systems approach. MATHEMATICAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY : A JOURNAL OF THE IMA 2023; 40:24-48. [PMID: 36197900 PMCID: PMC10009886 DOI: 10.1093/imammb/dqac013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis is the term used to describe inflammation in the liver. It is associated with a high rate of mortality, but the underlying disease mechanisms are not completely understood and treatment options are limited. We present a mathematical model of hepatitis that captures the complex interactions between hepatocytes (liver cells), hepatic stellate cells (cells in the liver that produce hepatitis-associated fibrosis) and the immune components that mediate inflammation. The model is in the form of a system of ordinary differential equations. We use numerical techniques and bifurcation analysis to characterize and elucidate the physiological mechanisms that dominate liver injury and its outcome to a healthy or unhealthy, chronic state. This study reveals the complex interactions between the multiple cell types and mediators involved in this complex disease and highlights potential problems in targeting inflammation in the liver therapeutically.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jonathan M Gibbins
- Institute for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AS, UK
| | - Martin R Nelson
- School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, NG11 8NS, UK
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10
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Bahram Yazdroudi F, Malek A. Optimal control of TGF-β to prevent formation of pulmonary fibrosis. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0279449. [PMID: 36584224 PMCID: PMC9803315 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
In this paper, three optimal control problems are proposed to prevent forming lung fibrosis while control is transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in the myofibroblast diffusion process. Two diffusion equations for fibroblast and myofibroblast are mathematically formulated as the system's dynamic, while different optimal control model problems are proposed to find the optimal TGF-β. During solving the first optimal control problem with the regulator objection function, it is understood that the control function gets unexpected negative values. Thus, in the second optimal control problem, for the control function, the non-negative constraint is imposed. This problem is solved successfully using the extended canonical Hamiltonian equations with no flux boundary conditions. Pontryagin's minimum principle is used to solve the related optimal control problems successfully. In the third optimal control problem, the fibroblast equation is added to a dynamic system consisting of the partial differential equation. The two-dimensional diffusion equations for fibroblast and myofibroblast are transferred to a system of ordinary differential equations using the central finite differences explicit method. Three theorems and two propositions are proved using extended Pontryagin's minimum principle and the extended Hamiltonian equations. Numerical results are given. We believe that this optimal strategy can help practitioners apply some medication to reduce the TGF-β in preventing the formation of pulmonary fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fateme Bahram Yazdroudi
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Faculty of Mathematical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alaeddin Malek
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Faculty of Mathematical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
- * E-mail:
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11
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Verma L, Meher R. Study on generalized fuzzy fractional human liver model with Atangana-Baleanu-Caputo fractional derivative. EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL PLUS 2022; 137:1233. [PMID: 36405041 PMCID: PMC9650680 DOI: 10.1140/epjp/s13360-022-03396-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to develop a novel fuzzy fractional model for the human liver that incorporates the ABC fractional differentiability, also known as ABC gH-differentiability, based on the generalized Hukuhara derivative. In addition, a novel fuzzy double parametric q-homotopy analysis method with a generalized transform and ABC gH-differentiability is used to deal with the fuzzy mathematical model and examine its convergence analysis. The stability of the unique equilibrium point for the fuzzy fractional human liver model and the existence of a unique solution in the proposed model are investigated using the Arzela-Ascoli theorem and Schauder's fixed-point theory. Some numerical experiments are conducted to visualize better results and test the proposed method's efficacy. The results of the q-HAShTM employing the presented approaches coincide with most of the clinical data, providing it more precise and superior to the generalized Mittag-Leffler function method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lalchand Verma
- Department of Mathematics and Humanities, S.V. National Institute of Technology, Surat, 395007 India
| | - Ramakanta Meher
- Department of Mathematics and Humanities, S.V. National Institute of Technology, Surat, 395007 India
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12
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Shou Y, Johnson SC, Quek YJ, Li X, Tay A. Integrative lymph node-mimicking models created with biomaterials and computational tools to study the immune system. Mater Today Bio 2022; 14:100269. [PMID: 35514433 PMCID: PMC9062348 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2022.100269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The lymph node (LN) is a vital organ of the lymphatic and immune system that enables timely detection, response, and clearance of harmful substances from the body. Each LN comprises of distinct substructures, which host a plethora of immune cell types working in tandem to coordinate complex innate and adaptive immune responses. An improved understanding of LN biology could facilitate treatment in LN-associated pathologies and immunotherapeutic interventions, yet at present, animal models, which often have poor physiological relevance, are the most popular experimental platforms. Emerging biomaterial engineering offers powerful alternatives, with the potential to circumvent limitations of animal models, for in-depth characterization and engineering of the lymphatic and adaptive immune system. In addition, mathematical and computational approaches, particularly in the current age of big data research, are reliable tools to verify and complement biomaterial works. In this review, we first discuss the importance of lymph node in immunity protection followed by recent advances using biomaterials to create in vitro/vivo LN-mimicking models to recreate the lymphoid tissue microstructure and microenvironment, as well as to describe the related immuno-functionality for biological investigation. We also explore the great potential of mathematical and computational models to serve as in silico supports. Furthermore, we suggest how both in vitro/vivo and in silico approaches can be integrated to strengthen basic patho-biological research, translational drug screening and clinical personalized therapies. We hope that this review will promote synergistic collaborations to accelerate progress of LN-mimicking systems to enhance understanding of immuno-complexity.
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Key Words
- ABM, agent-based model
- APC, antigen-presenting cell
- BV, blood vessel
- Biomaterials
- CPM, Cellular Potts model
- Computational models
- DC, dendritic cell
- ECM, extracellular matrix
- FDC, follicular dendritic cell
- FRC, fibroblastic reticular cell
- Immunotherapy
- LEC, lymphatic endothelial cell
- LN, lymph node
- LV, lymphatic vessel
- Lymph node
- Lymphatic system
- ODE, ordinary differential equation
- PDE, partial differential equation
- PDMS, polydimethylsiloxane
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufeng Shou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 117583, Singapore
| | - Sarah C. Johnson
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington, SW72AZ, UK
| | - Ying Jie Quek
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 117583, Singapore
- Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, 138648, Singapore
| | - Xianlei Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 117583, Singapore
| | - Andy Tay
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 117583, Singapore
- Institute for Health Innovation & Technology, National University of Singapore, 117599, Singapore
- NUS Tissue Engineering Program, National University of Singapore, 117510, Singapore
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13
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A fractional-order model of human liver: Analytic-approximate and numerical solutions comparing with clinical data. ALEXANDRIA ENGINEERING JOURNAL 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aej.2021.03.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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14
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Seyedpour SM, Nabati M, Lambers L, Nafisi S, Tautenhahn HM, Sack I, Reichenbach JR, Ricken T. Application of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Liver Biomechanics: A Systematic Review. Front Physiol 2021; 12:733393. [PMID: 34630152 PMCID: PMC8493836 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.733393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
MRI-based biomechanical studies can provide a deep understanding of the mechanisms governing liver function, its mechanical performance but also liver diseases. In addition, comprehensive modeling of the liver can help improve liver disease treatment. Furthermore, such studies demonstrate the beginning of an engineering-level approach to how the liver disease affects material properties and liver function. Aimed at researchers in the field of MRI-based liver simulation, research articles pertinent to MRI-based liver modeling were identified, reviewed, and summarized systematically. Various MRI applications for liver biomechanics are highlighted, and the limitations of different viscoelastic models used in magnetic resonance elastography are addressed. The clinical application of the simulations and the diseases studied are also discussed. Based on the developed questionnaire, the papers' quality was assessed, and of the 46 reviewed papers, 32 papers were determined to be of high-quality. Due to the lack of the suitable material models for different liver diseases studied by magnetic resonance elastography, researchers may consider the effect of liver diseases on constitutive models. In the future, research groups may incorporate various aspects of machine learning (ML) into constitutive models and MRI data extraction to further refine the study methodology. Moreover, researchers should strive for further reproducibility and rigorous model validation and verification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed M. Seyedpour
- Institute of Mechanics, Structural Analysis and Dynamics, Faculty of Aerospace Engineering and Geodesy, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
- Biomechanics Lab, Institute of Mechanics, Structural Analysis and Dynamics, Faculty of Aerospace Engineering and Geodesy, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Mehdi Nabati
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Boğaziçi University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Lena Lambers
- Institute of Mechanics, Structural Analysis and Dynamics, Faculty of Aerospace Engineering and Geodesy, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
- Biomechanics Lab, Institute of Mechanics, Structural Analysis and Dynamics, Faculty of Aerospace Engineering and Geodesy, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Sara Nafisi
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Istinye University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Hans-Michael Tautenhahn
- Department of General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Ingolf Sack
- Department of Radiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Charité Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jürgen R. Reichenbach
- Medical Physics Group, Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Jena University Hospital-Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
- Center of Medical Optics and Photonics, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
- Michael Stifel Center for Data-driven and Simulation Science Jena, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Tim Ricken
- Institute of Mechanics, Structural Analysis and Dynamics, Faculty of Aerospace Engineering and Geodesy, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
- Biomechanics Lab, Institute of Mechanics, Structural Analysis and Dynamics, Faculty of Aerospace Engineering and Geodesy, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
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15
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Wang Y, Brodin E, Nishii K, Frieboes HB, Mumenthaler SM, Sparks JL, Macklin P. Impact of tumor-parenchyma biomechanics on liver metastatic progression: a multi-model approach. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1710. [PMID: 33462259 PMCID: PMC7813881 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78780-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer and other cancers often metastasize to the liver in later stages of the disease, contributing significantly to patient death. While the biomechanical properties of the liver parenchyma (normal liver tissue) are known to affect tumor cell behavior in primary and metastatic tumors, the role of these properties in driving or inhibiting metastatic inception remains poorly understood, as are the longer-term multicellular dynamics. This study adopts a multi-model approach to study the dynamics of tumor-parenchyma biomechanical interactions during metastatic seeding and growth. We employ a detailed poroviscoelastic model of a liver lobule to study how micrometastases disrupt flow and pressure on short time scales. Results from short-time simulations in detailed single hepatic lobules motivate constitutive relations and biological hypotheses for a minimal agent-based model of metastatic growth in centimeter-scale tissue over months-long time scales. After a parameter space investigation, we find that the balance of basic tumor-parenchyma biomechanical interactions on shorter time scales (adhesion, repulsion, and elastic tissue deformation over minutes) and longer time scales (plastic tissue relaxation over hours) can explain a broad range of behaviors of micrometastases, without the need for complex molecular-scale signaling. These interactions may arrest the growth of micrometastases in a dormant state and prevent newly arriving cancer cells from establishing successful metastatic foci. Moreover, the simulations indicate ways in which dormant tumors could "reawaken" after changes in parenchymal tissue mechanical properties, as may arise during aging or following acute liver illness or injury. We conclude that the proposed modeling approach yields insight into the role of tumor-parenchyma biomechanics in promoting liver metastatic growth, and advances the longer term goal of identifying conditions to clinically arrest and reverse the course of late-stage cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yafei Wang
- Department of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Erik Brodin
- Department of Chemical, Paper and Biomedical Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA
| | - Kenichiro Nishii
- Department of Chemical, Paper and Biomedical Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA
| | - Hermann B Frieboes
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
- James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
- Center for Predictive Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Shannon M Mumenthaler
- Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jessica L Sparks
- Department of Chemical, Paper and Biomedical Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA.
| | - Paul Macklin
- Department of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
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16
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Frieboes HB, Raghavan S, Godin B. Modeling of Nanotherapy Response as a Function of the Tumor Microenvironment: Focus on Liver Metastasis. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:1011. [PMID: 32974325 PMCID: PMC7466654 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.01011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) presents a challenging barrier for effective nanotherapy-mediated drug delivery to solid tumors. In particular for tumors less vascularized than the surrounding normal tissue, as in liver metastases, the structure of the organ itself conjures with cancer-specific behavior to impair drug transport and uptake by cancer cells. Cells and elements in the TME of hypovascularized tumors play a key role in the process of delivery and retention of anti-cancer therapeutics by nanocarriers. This brief review describes the drug transport challenges and how they are being addressed with advanced in vitro 3D tissue models as well as with in silico mathematical modeling. This modeling complements network-oriented techniques, which seek to interpret intra-cellular relevant pathways and signal transduction within cells and with their surrounding microenvironment. With a concerted effort integrating experimental observations with computational analyses spanning from the molecular- to the tissue-scale, the goal of effective nanotherapy customized to patient tumor-specific conditions may be finally realized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hermann B. Frieboes
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States
- James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States
- Center for Predictive Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States
| | - Shreya Raghavan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Biana Godin
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
- Developmental Therapeutics Program, Houston Methodist Cancer Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
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17
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A deep learning approach to evaluate intestinal fibrosis in magnetic resonance imaging models. Neural Comput Appl 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00521-020-04838-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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18
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Khatun MS, Biswas MHA. Optimal control strategies for preventing hepatitis B infection and reducing chronic liver cirrhosis incidence. Infect Dis Model 2019; 5:91-110. [PMID: 31930183 PMCID: PMC6948267 DOI: 10.1016/j.idm.2019.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2019] [Revised: 12/21/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Advanced liver cirrhosis has become life-threatening among non-communicable diseases nowadays. Cirrhosis, the terminal stage of liver diseases in which the liver develops scarring as a result of various long-term continuous damages. Among liver diseases, viral hepatitis is the major risk factor for chronic cirrhosis development. The present paper demonstrates a compartmental model of chronic disease liver cirrhosis describing the transmission dynamics of this disease. Applying the Pontryagin’s maximum principle, the optimal control policies such as vaccination for hepatitis B virus and treatment of other causes of cirrhosis are adopted as control measures. The target of this study is to minimize the number of infected and liver cirrhotic individuals as well as the associated cost of the control. For this purpose, the optimal control strategies are employed according to the underlying causes behind this disease. Our goal is to find the strategy of preventing hepatitis B infection which is considered one of the leading causes of cirrhosis and consequently, reduction of the chronic cirrhosis incidence. Efficiency analysis is also performed to observe the effective control among the two control strategies. The model is investigated both analytically and numerically and the numerical simulations are carried out to illustrate the analytical findings. The analysis reveals that both the vaccination and treatment could be the most fruitful way to reduce the incidence of chronic liver cirrhosis.
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19
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Rikard SM, Athey TL, Nelson AR, Christiansen SLM, Lee JJ, Holmes JW, Peirce SM, Saucerman JJ. Multiscale Coupling of an Agent-Based Model of Tissue Fibrosis and a Logic-Based Model of Intracellular Signaling. Front Physiol 2019; 10:1481. [PMID: 31920691 PMCID: PMC6928129 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.01481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Wound healing and fibrosis following myocardial infarction (MI) is a dynamic process involving many cell types, extracellular matrix (ECM), and inflammatory cues. As both incidence and survival rates for MI increase, management of post-MI recovery and associated complications are an increasingly important focus. Complexity of the wound healing process and the need for improved therapeutics necessitate a better understanding of the biochemical cues that drive fibrosis. To study the progression of cardiac fibrosis across spatial and temporal scales, we developed a novel hybrid multiscale model that couples a logic-based differential equation (LDE) model of the fibroblast intracellular signaling network with an agent-based model (ABM) of multi-cellular tissue remodeling. The ABM computes information about cytokine and growth factor levels in the environment including TGFβ, TNFα, IL-1β, and IL-6, which are passed as inputs to the LDE model. The LDE model then computes the network signaling state of individual cardiac fibroblasts within the ABM. Based on the current network state, fibroblasts make decisions regarding cytokine secretion and deposition and degradation of collagen. Simulated fibroblasts respond dynamically to rapidly changing extracellular environments and contribute to spatial heterogeneity in model predicted fibrosis, which is governed by many parameters including cell density, cell migration speeds, and cytokine levels. Verification tests confirmed that predictions of the coupled model and network model alone were consistent in response to constant cytokine inputs and furthermore, a subset of coupled model predictions were validated with in vitro experiments with human cardiac fibroblasts. This multiscale framework for cardiac fibrosis will allow for systematic screening of the effects of molecular perturbations in fibroblast signaling on tissue-scale extracellular matrix composition and organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Michaela Rikard
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Thomas L Athey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Anders R Nelson
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Steven L M Christiansen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Jia-Jye Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Jeffrey W Holmes
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States.,Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States.,Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Shayn M Peirce
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States.,Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Jeffrey J Saucerman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States.,Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
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20
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Manda EC, Chirove F. Acute hepatitis B virus infection model within the host incorporating immune cells and cytokine responses. Theory Biosci 2019; 139:153-169. [PMID: 31650408 DOI: 10.1007/s12064-019-00305-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
We formulate and analyze a within-host hepatitis B viral mathematical model for hepatitis B in the acute phase of infection. The model incorporates hepatocytes, hepatitis B virus, immune system cells and cytokine dynamics using a system of ordinary differential equations. We use the model to demonstrate the trends of the hepatitis B infection qualitatively without the effects of immune cells and cytokines. Using these trends, we tested the effects of incorporating the immune cells only and immune cells with cytokine responses at low and high inhibitions on the hepatitis B virus infection. Our results showed that it is impossible to have the immune cells work independently from cytokines when there is an acute hepatitis B virus infection. Therefore, our results suggest that incorporating immune cells and cytokine dynamics in the acute hepatitis B virus infection stage delays infection in the hepatocytes and excluding such dynamics speeds up infection during this phase. Results from this study are useful in developing strategies for control of hepatocellular carcinoma which is caused by hepatitis B virus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Faraimunashe Chirove
- University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.,University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
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21
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Hudson SV, Miller HA, Mahlbacher GE, Saforo D, Beverly LJ, Arteel GE, Frieboes HB. Computational/experimental evaluation of liver metastasis post hepatic injury: interactions with macrophages and transitional ECM. Sci Rep 2019; 9:15077. [PMID: 31636296 PMCID: PMC6803648 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-51249-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The complex interactions between subclinical changes to hepatic extracellular matrix (ECM) in response to injury and tumor-associated macrophage microenvironmental cues facilitating metastatic cell seeding remain poorly understood. This study implements a combined computational modeling and experimental approach to evaluate tumor growth following hepatic injury, focusing on ECM remodeling and interactions with local macrophages. Experiments were performed to determine ECM density and macrophage-associated cytokine levels. Effects of ECM remodeling along with macrophage polarization on tumor growth were evaluated via computational modeling. For primary or metastatic cells in co-culture with macrophages, TNF-α levels were 5× higher with M1 vs. M2 macrophages. Metastatic cell co-culture exhibited 10× higher TNF-α induction than with primary tumor cells. Although TGFβ1 induction was similar between both co-cultures, levels were slightly higher with primary cells in the presence of M1. Simulated metastatic tumors exhibited decreased growth compared to primary tumors, due to high local M1-induced cytotoxicity, even in a highly vascularized microenvironment. Experimental analysis combined with computational modeling may provide insight into interactions between ECM remodeling, macrophage polarization, and liver tumor growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanice V Hudson
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA
| | - Hunter A Miller
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA
| | - Grace E Mahlbacher
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA
| | - Douglas Saforo
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA
| | - Levi J Beverly
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA
- James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA
| | - Gavin E Arteel
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
- University of Louisville Alcohol Research Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA
| | - Hermann B Frieboes
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA.
- James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA.
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22
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Friedman A, Siewe N. Chronic hepatitis B virus and liver fibrosis: A mathematical model. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0195037. [PMID: 29634771 PMCID: PMC5892900 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a liver disorder that can result in cirrhosis, liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. HBV infection remains a major global health problem, as it affects more 350 million people chronically and kills roughly 600,000 people annually. Drugs currently used against HBV include IFN-α that decreases viremia, inflammation and the growth of liver fibrosis, and adefovir that decreases the viral load. Each of these drugs can have severe side-effects. In the present paper, we consider the treatment of chronic HBV by a combination of IFN-α and adefovir, and raise the following question: What should be the optimal ratio between IFN-α and adefovir in order to achieve the best 'efficacy' under constraints on the total amount of the drugs; here the efficacy is measured by the reduction of the levels of inflammation and of fibrosis? We develop a mathematical model of HBV pathogenesis by a system of partial differential equations (PDEs) and use the model to simulate a 'synergy map' which addresses the above question.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avner Friedman
- Mathematical Biosciences Institute & Department of Mathematics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Nourridine Siewe
- National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States of America
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