Understanding Immunology via Engineering Design: The Role of Mathematical Prototyping

Figure 5

Dynamic change in residual beta cell mass corresponds to the dynamic change in plasma C-peptide following onset of type 1 diabetes. The residual beta cell mass (x: right axis) and plasma C-peptide (square [31], circle [32], and + [30]: left axis) are shown as a function of time following clinical diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. A 9-point moving average of the residual beta cell mass is shown for comparison (dotted line). The residual beta cell mass is the difference between the observed beta cell mass and predicted beta cell mass. The dynamic change in observed beta cell mass was obtained from pancreata obtained from patients with type 1 diabetes [25–27]. The predicted beta cell mass is an estimate of the minimum beta cell mass required to maintain glucose homeostasis. Figure was originally published in [34].