Acute and Chronic Lung Injury: Therapeutic Targets and Drugs

Acute and chronic lung injuries represent a significant area of concern within respiratory medicine, characterized by functional abnormalities or structural damage due to various conditions such as lung infections, sepsis, mechanical ventilation-induced injury, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pulmonary fibrosis. These injuries pose major global health challenges, necessitating comprehensive management and early intervention strategies. Despite the critical need for effective treatments, the pathophysiology of these injuries remains inadequately understood, with specific mechanisms and drug targets still unclear. Recent studies have begun to shed light on the complex molecular and cellular processes involved, yet significant gaps persist in our understanding of the precise pathways and interactions that drive these conditions. Current research efforts are focused on unraveling these complexities to pave the way for novel therapeutic approaches, but there remains a pressing need for more detailed investigations into the underlying mechanisms and potential drug targets.

This research topic aims to investigate the mechanisms and therapeutic advancements in acute and chronic lung injuries. The objective is to provide a detailed overview of the molecular mechanisms involved, identify new pharmacological targets, and develop innovative therapies, including nanomedicine. By exploring pathophysiological processes driven by risk factors such as infections and smoking, the study seeks to establish foundations for new drug development and identify potential therapeutic targets.

To gather further insights into the mechanisms and therapeutic advancements in acute and chronic lung injuries, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Molecular Pathways: Elucidating key molecular pathways and interactions among lung cell subpopulations in acute and chronic lung injuries.
- Novel Therapeutic Targets: Identifying promising targets for treating various lung injuries.
- Drug Development and Repurposing: Evaluating the therapeutic effects of candidate drugs for lung injuries.
- Nanomedicine: Developing innovative nanodrugs for respiratory diseases and summarizing the applications of nanomedicine in lung injury treatment.
- Clinical Perspectives: Summarizing clinical observations and proposing potential treatment strategies for lung injuries.

Keywords: Acute lung injury, chronic lung injury, immunity, cell crosstalk, drug targets, nanomedicine

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.