Modulation of Immune Response in Oral Health: Current Challenges and Future Directions

About this Research Topic

Background

The background project of this Research Topic is rooted in the recognition of the crucial role played by the immune system in maintaining oral health and combating oral diseases. The oral cavity harbors a diverse microbial community, necessitating a delicate equilibrium in the immune response to maintain tolerance towards commensal microorganisms while mounting effective defense against pathogens. Moreover, the oral cavity exhibits notable heterogeneity in its tissues, reflecting the diverse functions and structures within this region: oral mucosa, gingiva, tongue, salivary glands, teeth, dentin-pulp complex, bone, and periodontal ligament. Understanding the heterogeneity of oral cavity tissues is crucial for developing targeted therapies and comprehending the intricate functions and interactions within this dynamic environment.

Various challenges exist in the modulation of immune responses for optimal oral health outcomes. These challenges include the identification and characterization of specific immune cells and molecular pathways involved in oral immune regulation, understanding the impact of systemic immune disorders on oral health, and deciphering the intricate crosstalk between the oral microbiome and the immune system.

This Research Topic aims to address these challenges and advance the field of immune modulation in oral health. This includes exploring innovative immunotherapeutic approaches that can selectively target dysregulated immune responses in oral diseases, developing personalized strategies for immune modulation based on individual patient characteristics, and harnessing the potential of oral microbiome manipulation to influence immune regulation. Moreover, the project seeks to identify and validate biomarkers that can serve as indicators for predicting and monitoring immune-related oral diseases. These biomarkers may aid in early detection, risk assessment, and treatment response evaluation, thereby improving clinical management and patient outcomes.

This Research Topic will cover specific themes such as:
- Immunomodulatory mechanisms in oral health
- Role of immune cells, cytokines, chemokines, and signaling pathways in maintaining oral immune homeostasis
- Interactions between the oral microbiome and the immune system
- Immunomodulatory approaches and therapies in the context of oral health
- Translational and clinical implications
- Development of diagnostic tools, biomarkers, and personalized approaches for immune-based interventions

We welcome these types of manuscripts:
- Original research articles
- Reviews
- Mini-reviews
- Perspectives
- Clinical studies
- Clinical cases

Keywords: Immune Response, Oral Diseases, Inflammation, Immunotherapy, Immune Modulation Strategies, Regeneration, Host Defence

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.

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