Control of the first-line human defence system An autocatalytic model.

A control of the first-line human defence system, using mechanisms analogous to specific and non-specific (parametric) triggering of phagocytosis, is proposed on the basis of an autocatalytic model of biphasic modulation of phagocyte luminescence by experimental peptide medicines. Properties of the autocatalytic model are described and its catastrophe and bifurcation sets determined. The mechanism analogous to parametric triggering is shown to result from a fold catastrophe produced by the changes in the autocatalytic interaction parameter characterising a given peptide preparation. Usefulness of the model was shown by its application to two distinct peptide preparations having different immunomodulatory properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]