Agent based modeling of humoral response to atherogenesis

Atherosclerosis is a pathology where the immune system control plays a relevant role. We present studies on the increased atherosclerosis risk using an agent based model of atheroge- nesis. It is well known that the major risk in atherosclerosis is the persistent high level of low density lipoprotein (LDL) concentration. However, it is not known if short period of high LDL concentration can cause irreversible damage and if reduction of the LDL concentration (either by life style or drug) can drastically or partially reduce the already acquired risk. A model approach to this problem by simulating four different clinical situations of the same virtual patient is shown. In the first one the patient lifestyle maintains the concentration of LDL in a no risk range. This is the control case simulation, to be compared with other ones. In the second and in the third simulations, the life style of the virtual patient rises the LDL concentration to a risk level. Countermeasures to reduce the LDL concentration are taken late, in the former case, and early in the latter one. Differences in the foam cells formation can be interpreted as permanent or non permanent risk effects. Finally we consider a virtual patient whose life style rises many time the level of LDL concentration just above the normal but this is quickly reduced using appropriate treatments. Those preliminary results show that the problem of correct timing of appropriate treatment need to be carefully investigated in order to prevent permanent damages.