About this Research Topic
Longly considered as a cemetery for thymocytes, the thymus is henceforth officially recognized as the central site for self-tolerance establishment through the generation of immunocompetent and self-tolerant T cells. This essential function may however be compromised by genetic anomalies and environmental factors such as infections. While autoimmunity is defined as an immune response against self-components resulting from the breakdown of mechanisms responsible for self-tolerance, the role of a thymic dysfunction tends to be disregarded.
Autoimmune diseases represent a major public health problem due to their chronicity, the fact they are often fatal, and their important and continuously increasing prevalence all over the world. Hence, deciphering the pathogenic mechanisms is crucial for the development of appropriate preventive and therapeutic strategies.
In this context, it is well established that, depending on the disease, the autoimmune attack is predominantly mediated by either autoantibodies or autoreactive T cells. Furthermore, literature data describe several non-exhaustive pathogenic scenarios. Intriguingly, there is a marked lack of data concerning the thymus, the central site for self-tolerance establishment. It is however obvious that a thymic dysfunction may lead to the production of aberrant T cells, among others, autoreactive cells.
In this research topic, we will try to collect and gather as much data as possible about the role of thymus dysfunction in autoimmune diseases in order to demystify this neglected issue and give it its rightful place, in the ultimate perspective of developing appropriate solutions.
We encourage the submission of investigations describing either genetically-based or environmentally-induced thymus dysfunction. It would be better, but not essential, if such studies evidence a direct link between thymus dysfunction and autoimmunity. They can be:
• Clinical observations
• In vitro experimental studies
• In vivo experimental studies
All paper formats (clinical cases, original articles, short articles …) are welcome. Review articles are also encouraged.
Autoimmune diseases represent a major public health problem due to their chronicity, the fact they are often fatal, and their important and continuously increasing prevalence all over the world. Hence, deciphering the pathogenic mechanisms is crucial for the development of appropriate preventive and therapeutic strategies.
In this context, it is well established that, depending on the disease, the autoimmune attack is predominantly mediated by either autoantibodies or autoreactive T cells. Furthermore, literature data describe several non-exhaustive pathogenic scenarios. Intriguingly, there is a marked lack of data concerning the thymus, the central site for self-tolerance establishment. It is however obvious that a thymic dysfunction may lead to the production of aberrant T cells, among others, autoreactive cells.
In this research topic, we will try to collect and gather as much data as possible about the role of thymus dysfunction in autoimmune diseases in order to demystify this neglected issue and give it its rightful place, in the ultimate perspective of developing appropriate solutions.
We encourage the submission of investigations describing either genetically-based or environmentally-induced thymus dysfunction. It would be better, but not essential, if such studies evidence a direct link between thymus dysfunction and autoimmunity. They can be:
• Clinical observations
• In vitro experimental studies
• In vivo experimental studies
All paper formats (clinical cases, original articles, short articles …) are welcome. Review articles are also encouraged.
Keywords: Thymus dysfunction, Self-tolerance breakdown, Autoreactive T cells, 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.
