Therapeutic Agents for Lupus Treatment

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other forms of lupus represent a heterogeneous group of autoimmune diseases characterized by chronic inflammation and multi-organ involvement, resulting from complex immune dysregulation. Despite significant advances in understanding lupus pathogenesis, therapeutic management remains challenging due to the variability in clinical manifestations, the risk of long-term organ damage, and the limitations of existing therapies in achieving sustained remission.

For decades, lupus treatment has relied primarily on non-specific immunosuppressants such as corticosteroids, antimalarials, and cytotoxic agents. While these agents have improved survival rates, they are associated with considerable toxicity and do not specifically target the underlying mechanisms driving autoimmunity in lupus. Recent years have witnessed a paradigm shift, with the development and approval of biologic and targeted synthetic therapies that interfere with specific immune pathways, such as B-cell signaling (e.g., Belimumab, Rituximab), type I interferon signaling (e.g., Anifrolumab), and intracellular signaling cascades (e.g., JAK inhibitors). These agents offer new hope for more personalized, effective, and safer treatment strategies.

This Research Topic aims to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of current and emerging therapeutic agents for lupus, encompassing both preclinical and clinical perspectives. We welcome original research articles, reviews, systematic reviews, and translational studies focusing on:



• Mechanisms of action and immunological targets of emerging and investigational agents

• Clinical trials evaluating the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of novel or repurposed treatments

• Biomarkers for predicting therapeutic response, disease stratification, and treatment optimization

• Real-world evidence on long-term treatment outcomes and safety profiles

• Innovations in drug development, precision medicine, and patient-tailored therapeutic approaches







We look forward to your valuable contributions to this timely and impactful collection.

Article types and fees

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

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

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

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, type I interferons, JAK inhibitors, therapeutics, biologics

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.