From immune equilibrium to immunodynamics

Abstract

ObjectiveThe immunology field has long been short of a universally applicable theoretical model that can quantitatively describe the immune response, and the theory of immune equilibrium (balance) is usually limited to the interpretation of the philosophical significance of immune phenomena. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a new immunological theory, namely, immunodynamic theory, to reanalyze the immune response.MethodsBy quantifying the immune dynamic equilibrium as the ratio of positive and negative immune power, the immune dynamic equilibrium equation was established. Then, the area under the curve of the positive and negative immune power was assumed to be equal in the whole process of immune response (regardless of correct or not), and through thought experiments based on this key hypothesis, a series of new concepts and expressions were derived, to establish a series of immunodynamic equations.ResultsNew concepts of immune force and immune braking force and their expression equations, namely, the theoretical equations of immunodynamics, were derived through thought experiments, and the theoretical curves of immunodynamics were obtained according to these equations. Via the equivalent transformation of the theoretical equations and practical calculation of functional data, and by the methods of curve comparison and fitting, some practical equations of immunodynamics were established, and these practical equations were used to solve theoretical and practical problems that are related to the immunotherapy of infectious diseases and cancers.ConclusionThe traditional theory of immune equilibrium has been mathematized and transformed from a philosophical category into a new concrete scientific theory, namely the theory of immunodynamics, which solves the dilemma that the traditional theory cannot guide individualized medical practice for a long time. This new theory may develop into one of the core theories of immunology in the future.

From immune equilibrium to tumor ecodynamics

“…F ib can be broken down into two factor pairs, namely, the factor pair TGFβ/INFγ and factor pair pSTAT3/pSTAT1. Two factors in the same factor pair must be tested using the same method and expressed by the same unit to ensure the correctness of Equations (1) and ( 2 ) ( 14 ). F ib is a pure ratio, with no unit, but it represents a kind of “dynamic” (immunosuppressive activity) value.…”

“…Using the method of reverse immunodynamics, the reciprocal form of the immune force equation ( 14 ) is taken as the tumor ecological force equation, namely, the negative immune power ( P ni ) as positive tumor ecological power in the equation as the numerator and the positive immune power ( P pi ) as the negative tumor ecological power as the denominator in the equation, to obtain the consolidation equation of theoretical and practical tumor ecological force ( F ib ) equations, namely, the following Equation (1) . Similarly, the method of reverse immunodynamics is used to establish the combined equation of theoretical and practical tumor ecological braking force equations, namely, Equation (2) , as follows:…”

“…It is worth noting that, in immunodynamic equations, there is an adjustment coefficient ( C oe ) ( 14 ), but in tumor ecodynamic equations, there is no C oe . This is because, at the beginning, when exploring practical immunodynamic equations, there are many hypothetical equations based on functional data, and in the course of using functional data to select the practical equations that can represent the theoretical equations, the baseline levels of functional data for each hypothetical equation are different, and the introduction of C oe can make the baseline levels of all assumed equations consistent; they are all equal to 1.…”

“…This is because, at the beginning, when exploring practical immunodynamic equations, there are many hypothetical equations based on functional data, and in the course of using functional data to select the practical equations that can represent the theoretical equations, the baseline levels of functional data for each hypothetical equation are different, and the introduction of C oe can make the baseline levels of all assumed equations consistent; they are all equal to 1. Thus, it is convenient to compare different equations and facilitate an intuitive understanding of the immunodynamic equations ( 14 ). However, if C oe is introduced into the tumor ecodynamic equations, it will not only hinder the intuitive understanding of the equations but also increase the computational complexity; more importantly, it would make it impossible to compare different baseline levels in patients with cancers before treatment.…”

“…However, the theory describing this core problem, namely, the theory of immune equilibrium, is not the core theory of immunology ( 1 ), which forms a great paradox in immunology—namely, the theory of the core problem is not the core theory. The author of this paper recently developed the theory of immune equilibrium into the theory of immunodynamics by mathematizing it, transforming it from a philosophical category into concrete science ( 14 ). However, the immunodynamic equations only solve the problem of the measurement of immune response induced by immunotherapy, and they are still unable to solve the problem of the measurement of tumor ecosystems because the tumor ecosystems of different patients require different amounts of immune response in order to benefit patients.…”