Autoimmune encephalitis (AE) has emerged as a distinct category within neurology, marked by an immune-mediated assault on the central nervous system. Originally perceived as a paraneoplastic condition primarily affecting limbic structures, it is now known that AE can also arise from non-paraneoplastic sources and affect areas beyond the limbic system. The disorder manifests through a variety of symptoms, including cognitive impairments, psychiatric issues, and seizures. Understanding the neoplastic, infectious, and genetic contributors to neurological autoimmunity, particularly AE's pathogenesis, is constantly advancing. This includes recognizing the role of viral infections in triggering CNS autoimmune responses and the potential of paraneoplastic neurological syndromes to indicate hidden cancers. Yet, challenges persist due to the lack of a definitive animal model and inconsistent correlations between antibody levels and disease progression, emphasizing the need for more reliable prognostic markers.
This Research Topic aims to highlight recent progress and innovative perspectives on the underlying mechanisms, diagnostic biomarkers, and therapeutic targets for autoimmune encephalitis and its associated peripheral neuropathies, focusing especially on paraneoplastic and post-infectious forms. We aim to deepen the understanding of this complex disease through cutting-edge research and comprehensive reviews.
To gather further insights into this evolving field, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
o Molecular mechanisms driving AE and associated disorders.
o Genetic, epigenetic, and transcriptomic influences on AE and related conditions.
o New serum and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers and prognostic tools in AE.
o Comparative autoimmunity studies in AE with and without tumor associations.
o Multi-omics and experimental validation techniques in AE research.
o Innovative therapeutic strategies for managing AE and related diseases.
We invite submissions of Original Research, Reviews, Commentaries, and Perspectives. Other article types that the journal approves are also welcome if they offer insights into newly identified instances of autoimmune encephalitis, whether associated with autoimmune peripheral disease or not.
Keywords: autoimmune encephalitis, biomarkers, immune-mediated neurological disorders, paraneoplastic syndromes, post-infectious autoimmunity, molecular mechanisms, therapeutic strategies, genetic influences, neurological autoimmunity
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.
