Non-equilibrium Cytokine Dynamics for Possible Therapeutic Intervention

Cytokines and T-cells interaction plays an important key role in complex immune system dynamics. However, we need to monitor crucial way of cytokines and T-cells cross-talk in our immune system, the failure of which may result in dire consequences. We present a minimal basic model of this interaction and study the evolution of the cytokine dynamics in their interaction with T-cells using stochastic formalism. Our results indicate that the stochastic fluctuations drive the system at near equilibrium steady state (NESS) which is a non-equilibrium state. The production rate of cytokines via T-cells can manipulate the steady state to NESS, thereby activating the system. Time delay is also able to drive the system to various immunological states, namely, NESS, oscillating state, dissipating non-equilibrium state, etc. by manipulating the steady state. These states could be useful for therapeutic intervention of various immunological disorders.