About this Research Topic
Target organ damages are the key pathogenic process for mechanism study and clinical treatment in autoimmune disorders. Organ-specific damages relate to the autoantigen-specific immune response, such as anti-insulin autoantibodies in type I diabetes, and anti-nuclear autoantibodies in systemic autoimmune diseases. Moreover, the comprehensive crosstalk between tissue-resident cells and the immune system preciously monitors the target organ damage in diseases. Immune cell infiltration and anti-oxLDL autoantibody deposition have been observed in vascular during atherosclerosis. Importantly, amplified autoreactive B cell subsets in circulation and kidney have been reported in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with renal damage.
For instance, Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disease mainly characterized by dry eyes and dry mouth caused by glandular inflammation in salivary glands (SG) and lacrimal glands. Currently, the etiology of SS still remains elusive while SS patients suffer from a lack of effective therapies due to the limited understanding of pSS immunopathogenesis. Both immune cells and SG epithelial cells contribute to SS pathogenesis. Various T cell subsets as well as T cell-derived cytokines play important roles in disease initiation and perpetuation. Moreover, lines of evidence have suggested that functional impairment of SG epithelial cells is a leading cause of xerostomia during SS development. The SG microenvironment supports T cell and B cell functions. It will be important to examine the immunomodulatory functions of SG epithelial cells and the interactions between the epithelial cells and immune cell populations, which will promote the development of novel therapeutic strategies for treating SS patients.
Thus, organ-specific autoimmune diseases and the target organ damages in systemic autoimmune diseases are of great interest in our Research Topic. The goal of this Research Topic is to provide a forum to advance research on the interaction of tissue microenvironment with immune cell populations during the development of autoimmune diseases. Subtopics could include but are not limited to:
1. Mechanisms of the crosstalk between the immune system and tissue-resident cells in autoimmune diseases.
2. Autoimmune inflammatory microenvironment and cytokine network in target tissues with autoimmune disorders.
3. Therapeutic strategies for targeting the immune system-target tissue crosstalk in autoimmune diseases.
4. Pre-clinical studies and other combination studies on the management of target organ damages in autoimmune diseases.
For instance, Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disease mainly characterized by dry eyes and dry mouth caused by glandular inflammation in salivary glands (SG) and lacrimal glands. Currently, the etiology of SS still remains elusive while SS patients suffer from a lack of effective therapies due to the limited understanding of pSS immunopathogenesis. Both immune cells and SG epithelial cells contribute to SS pathogenesis. Various T cell subsets as well as T cell-derived cytokines play important roles in disease initiation and perpetuation. Moreover, lines of evidence have suggested that functional impairment of SG epithelial cells is a leading cause of xerostomia during SS development. The SG microenvironment supports T cell and B cell functions. It will be important to examine the immunomodulatory functions of SG epithelial cells and the interactions between the epithelial cells and immune cell populations, which will promote the development of novel therapeutic strategies for treating SS patients.
Thus, organ-specific autoimmune diseases and the target organ damages in systemic autoimmune diseases are of great interest in our Research Topic. The goal of this Research Topic is to provide a forum to advance research on the interaction of tissue microenvironment with immune cell populations during the development of autoimmune diseases. Subtopics could include but are not limited to:
1. Mechanisms of the crosstalk between the immune system and tissue-resident cells in autoimmune diseases.
2. Autoimmune inflammatory microenvironment and cytokine network in target tissues with autoimmune disorders.
3. Therapeutic strategies for targeting the immune system-target tissue crosstalk in autoimmune diseases.
4. Pre-clinical studies and other combination studies on the management of target organ damages in autoimmune diseases.
Keywords: Organ-Specific Autoimmune Response, Mechanism, Therapeutic strategy, autoimmune disease
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