About this Research Topic
It is accepted that both genetics and environmental factors interact to initiate most human autoimmune diseases. Furthermore, the incidence of autoimmune disease has risen over the past 3-4 decades, indicating an important role for changing environmental factors in disease risk. Epidemiology studies have identified a number of factors that associate with increased autoimmunity including the rise in obesity, changing sun exposure habits and altered reproductive behaviors (e.g. delayed childbearing). The higher risk of certain autoimmune diseases in industrialized countries has also been linked to an overall reduced prevalence of non-specific and parasitic infections, whereas specific viruses such as Epstein Barr virus have been linked to diseases such as multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Some environmental factors such as diet and the use of antibiotics also alter the microbiome, which has the potential to modulate autoimmunity.
Despite these advances, it is still unknown how many of these environmental factors contribute to autoimmunity or the progression of subclinical autoimmunity to overt disease. Understanding these mechanisms will be an important pre-requisite to preventing autoimmunity and reducing the economic burden of these diseases.
This Research Topic aims to collect data and review studies to provide new insights into the biological mechanisms of how environmental risk factors modulate autoimmunity.
We are also interested in Original Research manuscripts that describe the effects of environmental risk factors on the human immune system or on the development of autoimmunity in animal models. We are interested in reviews that summarize new advances in the field. Manuscripts can discuss the effects of single or multiple environmental factors on one or more autoimmune disease(s).
Subthemes in this Research Topic can include, but are not limited to:
1. Effects of sunlight and vitamin D on autoimmunity
2. The microbiome in autoimmunity
3. Viruses in autoimmunity
4. Dietary factors in autoimmunity
5. Environmental toxins or environmental solvents in autoimmunity
6. Role of hormonal therapy or contraceptives on autoimmunity
7. Effect of parity on autoimmunity
8. Cigarette smoking and autoimmunity
Despite these advances, it is still unknown how many of these environmental factors contribute to autoimmunity or the progression of subclinical autoimmunity to overt disease. Understanding these mechanisms will be an important pre-requisite to preventing autoimmunity and reducing the economic burden of these diseases.
This Research Topic aims to collect data and review studies to provide new insights into the biological mechanisms of how environmental risk factors modulate autoimmunity.
We are also interested in Original Research manuscripts that describe the effects of environmental risk factors on the human immune system or on the development of autoimmunity in animal models. We are interested in reviews that summarize new advances in the field. Manuscripts can discuss the effects of single or multiple environmental factors on one or more autoimmune disease(s).
Subthemes in this Research Topic can include, but are not limited to:
1. Effects of sunlight and vitamin D on autoimmunity
2. The microbiome in autoimmunity
3. Viruses in autoimmunity
4. Dietary factors in autoimmunity
5. Environmental toxins or environmental solvents in autoimmunity
6. Role of hormonal therapy or contraceptives on autoimmunity
7. Effect of parity on autoimmunity
8. Cigarette smoking and autoimmunity
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
