Mathematical Modeling for Keloid Formation Triggered by Virus: Malignant Effects and Immune System Competition

This paper deals with the modeling of a wound healing disease, the keloid, which may provoke onset of malignant cells with higher progression feature, thus generating cells with heterogeneous phenotype. According to medical hypothesis, it is assumed that viruses and the genetic susceptibility of patients are the main causes that trigger the formation. The mathematical model is developed by means of the tools of the kinetic theory for active particles. The competition of the immune system cells with viruses, keloid fibroblast cells, and malignant cells is taken into account. Numerical simulations, obtained by considering the sensitivity analysis of the parameters in the model, show the emerging phenomena that are typical of this disease.