Inflammation and fibrosis are fundamental biological processes that play a pivotal role in tissue repair and regeneration after injury. However, dysregulation and persistence of inflammation and fibrosis often leads to tissue remodeling, organ dysfunction, and eventually failure, thereby contributing to a broad range of chronic and degenerative diseases, including autoimmune disorders, chronic pulmonary conditions, liver cirrhosis, and cardiovascular diseases. This Research Topic will delve into the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie inflammation and fibrosis, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of these fundamental biological processes, determining their contribution to pathological processes, and providing insights into potential therapeutic strategies that could halt or reverse disease progression.

This Research Topic aims to advance the understanding of the molecular underpinnings of inflammation and fibrosis, with the goal of identifying novel therapeutic strategies. The key objectives include:

• Characterization of Molecular Pathways: Explore the intricate signaling networks that regulate the inflammatory and fibrotic responses. This includes pathways such as TGF-β, NF-κB, and JAK/STAT, and their interactions at the cellular level.

• Integrative multi-omics studies investigating the genome, epigenome, transcriptome, epitranscriptome, proteome and/or the metabolome in different cell types that participate in inflammation and fibrosis during different chronic and degenerative diseases.

• Role of Immune Cells and Fibroblasts: Examine the role of immune cells such as macrophages, T cells, and fibroblasts in the initiation and persistence of inflammatory and fibrotic responses. Of particular interest is how immune-fibroblast crosstalk drives the progression of chronic disease.

• Therapeutic Targets: Identify emerging molecular targets that have the potential to modulate these pathways. Submissions may focus on small-molecule inhibitors, biologics, RNA-based therapeutics, and other novel therapeutic modalities that aim to modulate inflammation and fibrosis at the molecular level.

• Preclinical and Clinical Studies: Highlight key findings from both preclinical animal models and human clinical trials. This could include studies on the efficacy, safety, and mechanism of action of new therapeutic candidates targeting inflammatory and fibrotic pathways.

This Research Topic will provide a valuable resource for researchers and clinicians by offering new insights into inflammation and fibrosis, thereby advancing the field toward the development of more effective therapies.

We invite researchers to submit original research articles, reviews, mini-reviews, and commentaries that address key topics within the realm of inflammation and fibrosis. This collection seeks to integrate findings from molecular biology, immunology, pharmacology, and clinical research, encouraging submissions that span these disciplines. Topics of interest include:

• Novel insights into signaling pathways governing inflammation and fibrosis.
• The role of immune cells and stromal cells in the development of fibrotic diseases.
• Therapeutic approaches targeting molecular mediators of fibrosis.
• Translational studies that bridge the gap between basic research and clinical application.

All submissions will undergo a rigorous peer-review process to ensure that only the highest quality contributions are published, promoting significant advancements in the field.

Please note: Manuscripts consisting solely of computational analysis of bioinformatics or public genomic or transcriptional databases without validation (independent cohort or in vitro or in vivo biological validation) are outside the scope of this section and are not accepted as part of this research topic. Manuscript dealing with traditional or complementary medicine without a very strong focus on immunological parameters are out of scope for this journal.

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Unraveling the molecular web of inflammation and fibrosis: Pathways, immune interactions, epigenetics, and therapeutic frontiers