Exploring the Immune Landscape of the Liver: Mechanisms in Health and Disease

The liver plays a central role in maintaining immune homeostasis, acting as both a tolerogenic organ and a sentinel against pathogens. Hepatic immunology is a rapidly evolving field that explores the complex interplay between immune cells, liver parenchyma, and the microenvironment under both physiological and pathological conditions. This Research Topic will focus on cutting-edge studies addressing the immunological mechanisms underlying liver disease. By bringing together research on these interconnected areas, we aim to enhance understanding of how immune responses contribute to liver disease progression, transplantation outcomes, and therapeutic innovation. This collection seeks to provide high-quality insights into a field with global health implications, promoting collaborations and advancements in hepatic immunology.

The liver’s unique immunological environment is critical for maintaining immune tolerance and defense against chronic insults. However, disruptions in this balance lead to chronic liver diseases (CLD), including viral hepatitis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and other metabolic and autoimmune conditions. These diseases represent a growing global health burden, yet their immunopathogenesis remains incompletely understood. Recent advances in immunology, including single-cell technologies and extracellular vesicle research, have uncovered novel mechanisms driving liver inflammation, fibrosis, and disease progression.

This Research Topic aims to explore how immune responses contribute to the pathogenesis of CLD. Original research, review, minireview, perspective and case report papers focusing on one or more of the following areas will be welcome:

--The immune dysregulation caused by viral infections
--The interplay between metabolic stress and inflammation in MAFLD
--The emerging role of innate and adaptive immunity in fibrogenesis.
--Disease mechanisms and immunopathology (including biomarkers related to pathogenesis)
--New diagnostic tools/approaches

By addressing these challenges, we seek to highlight recent findings, identify knowledge gaps, and promote the development of innovative therapeutic strategies. Contributions from diverse scientific disciplines will provide a comprehensive understanding of CLD immunopathogenesis, advancing both basic and translational research.