The Role of Innate Immunity in the Pathogenesis of Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Diseases

Myeloid cells have recently become more important in the pathogenesis of autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases. With the description of new phenotypes of neutrophils such as granulocytic myeloid derived suppressor cells, transmigrated neutrophils and mature low-density granulocytes, innate immune cells are increasingly becoming leading effectors of tissue damage and immune dysregulation in autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases. Besides, myeloid cells like macrophages and neutrophils, can interact with other blood components like platelets, enhancing the inflammatory response. Besides, emerging concepts like the “trained immunity” warrant further research about their potential role in autoimmunity and autoinflammation. All these topics constitute a very active research area. Furthermore, new autoinflammatory syndromes have been described (such as the VEXAS syndrome) and more orphan autoinflammatory diseases are being recognized. Therefore, I believe that this collection will potentiate the Latin-American research on these subjects and will update current concepts regarding the role of innate immunity in autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases.

This Research Topic has the following main aims:

1. To summarize the recent advances in the understanding of the contribution of innate immunity to the pathogenesis of autoimmune and autoinflammatory disease with original papers.
2. To update the recent advances in this research area with review papers.
3. To promote the research regarding the role of innate immunity in autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases in Latin-America and other countries.
4. To summarize the role of the new phenotypes of neutrophils and macrophages and their interaction with other cells as well as the trained immunity in the pathogenesis of autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases.
5. To promote the research regarding the pathogenesis of new autoinflammatory syndromes.
6. To identify Latin-American researchers with interest in the innate immunity research area and establish potential collaborations.


We welcome original research, review and mini-review papers related, but not limited to, the following subthemes:

1. Novel phenotypes of neutrophils and macrophages as biomarkers and effectors of tissue damage in autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases.
2. Proteomic, transcriptomic, metabolomic profile, and effector functions of myeloid cells in autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases.
3. Pathogenic interactions between myeloid cells, platelets, and the adaptive immune system as promoters of tissue damage in autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases.
4. Current advances in the understanding of the role of innate immunity in the pathogenesis of autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases.