Distinctive features of tissue-resident and circulating immune memory cells

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About this Research Topic

Submission deadlines

  1. Manuscript Summary Submission Deadline 25 August 2025 | Manuscript Submission Deadline 13 December 2025

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Background

Tissue-specific immune memory has become a central focus in immunology, drawing attention to the distinct roles of tissue-resident memory lymphocytes, their circulating counterparts, and the diverse myeloid cells that share these microenvironments. Durable host protection depends on the coordinated activity of both lymphoid and myeloid compartments, enabling systemic coverage while delivering localized defence against infection, allergy, and chronic inflammation. While recent studies have shed light on the molecular signals guiding the localization and retention of these cells, key questions remain—particularly regarding how tissue-specific factors influence immune receptor repertoires, metabolic programs, and functional outcomes. Although several signalling pathways and transcriptional programs that support resident immune cells in both mucosal and non-mucosal tissues have been identified, the mechanisms driving their establishment, persistence, and specialized effector roles are not fully understood. Gaps persist around whether residency is shaped by antigen exposure during priming, sustained antigen presence, and/or local tissue-derived cues such as soluble mediators and metabolic gradients.

This collection aims to deepen our understanding of the mechanisms underpinning tissue-specific immune memory, with a focus on the interplay between innate and adaptive lymphoid and myeloid cells. Key objectives include defining the developmental, differentiation, and functional characteristics of these populations across different tissues and uncovering how molecular pathways and environmental factors contribute to the establishment, maintenance, and function of tissue-resident immune memory.

We welcome contributions addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

-The development and differentiation of innate and adaptive immune cells within distinct tissue environments.
-Comparative analysis of immune memory in mucosal versus non-mucosal tissues.
-Molecular, metabolic, and environmental factors influencing tissue-specific memory.
-Crosstalk between innate and adaptive immune cells that shapes tissue-resident memory characteristics and effector functions.

We encourage submissions focused on tissue-specific immune memory across diverse contexts, including mucosal barriers (gut, lung, reproductive tract), barrier and cutaneous tissues (skin), metabolically active organs (liver, adipose tissue), immune-privileged sites (CNS, kidney), and secondary or tertiary lymphoid structures. Particular emphasis will be placed on how local microenvironments regulate immune-cell residency, longevity, and functionality.

Article types for this Research Topic may include original research, reviews, and cutting-edge technological studies, especially those employing single-cell RNA sequencing, multiparameter flow cytometry, and advanced imaging techniques.

The Topic Editors declare no Conflicts of Interest

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Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

  • Case Report
  • Classification
  • Clinical Trial
  • Editorial
  • General Commentary
  • Hypothesis and Theory
  • Methods
  • Mini Review
  • Opinion
  • Original Research
  • Perspective
  • Review
  • Systematic Review
  • Technology and Code

Keywords: Tissue-specific memory, tissue-resident memory cells, circulating memory cells, immune microenvironment, mucosal tissues, innate lymphocytes, adaptive lymphocytes, molecular signalling, immune cell differentiation, immune memory function

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.

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