Immunization and aging : a learning process in the immune network.

Abstract

Immunization and aging: a learning process in the immune network. The immune system can be thought as a complex network of different interacting elements. A cellular automaton , defined in shape- space, was recently shown t o exhibit self- regulation an d complex behavior an d is, therefore, a good candidate t o model the immune system . Using this model t o simulate a real immune system we find good agreement with recent experiments on mice. The model exhibits the experimentally ob served refractory behavior of the immune system under multiple antigen present at ion s as well as loss of it s plasticity caused by aging.