2026-02-25 九州大学
左：緑の染色液と青色光を用いて観察した角膜炎の病変。 右：数理モデルによって再現された病変の形。
＜関連情報＞
- https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/ja/researches/view/1421
- https://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/f/64923/26_0225_01.pdf
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11538-026-01598-3
樹状角膜炎における病変パターン形成の数理モデル Mathematical Modeling of Lesion Pattern Formation in Dendritic Keratitis
Mari Masunaga,Reo Shimatani,Kazumi Shinozaki,Tomohiro Iida,Yoshinao Oda & Takashi Miura
Bulletin of Mathematical Biology Published:25 February 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11538-026-01598-3
Abstract
Dendritic keratitis is a form of eye infection caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV). The virus spreads via direct cell-to-cell infection among corneal epithelial cells. This leads to the formation of dendritic lesions characterized by terminal bulbs at their tips. Under immunosuppression, the condition may progress to geographic keratitis, which is a map-shaped lesion with dendritic tails. The mechanism of this pattern formation remains to be elucidated. In this study, we propose a mathematical model to elucidate the mechanisms of lesion pattern formation in dendritic keratitis. Our model shows that increased production of infection-suppressive cytokines induces dendritic patterns with terminal bulbs, whereas reduced cytokine levels lead to geographic patterns. Furthermore, altering the spatial distribution of cytokine production can reproduce dendritic tails. By including external cytokine secretion, we could reproduce tapered lesions observed in non-HSV keratitis. By clarifying the mechanisms behind terminal bulb formation and reproducing atypical lesion morphologies, our findings enhance the understanding of herpetic keratitis and highlight the utility of mathematical modeling in ophthalmology.
