Tissue‑immune crosstalk: Mechanisms and implications for T cell function and homeostasis

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About this Research Topic

Submission deadlines

  1. Manuscript Summary Submission Deadline 10 February 2026 | Manuscript Submission Deadline 31 May 2026

  2. This Research Topic is currently accepting articles.

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Background

The field of tissue-immune interactions has undergone significant transformation as emerging evidence demonstrates the centrality of local microenvironments in directing T cell biology. Historically, T cell differentiation and effector functions have been predominantly examined within lymphoid organs; however, recent studies reveal that tissues themselves are active participants, shaping T cell responses through dynamic communication with resident stromal and parenchymal cells. This evolving paradigm highlights a complex web of reciprocal signals—ranging from cytokines and chemokines to metabolic and epigenetic modifications—that govern the specialization, localization, and memory formation of T cells. Despite substantial advances, key questions remain regarding the precise molecular and cellular mechanisms mediating this crosstalk, the extent to which tissue-derived cues modulate immune balance, and how these processes influence disease tolerance, immune adaptation, and pathological inflammation.

Recent technological advances, such as single-cell and spatial omics, sophisticated imaging, and in vivo lineage tracing, have started to unravel the heterogeneity and dynamic behaviors of T cells in various tissue niches. Landmark studies now define tissue-resident memory T cells as critical sentinels of local immunity, while also uncovering pivotal roles for tissue-specific antigen presentation and metabolic adaptation in tuning T cell persistence and function. Yet, there remains a gap in our integrated understanding of how non-hematopoietic tissue elements, microenvironmental conditions, and systemic signals coordinate to sculpt T cell responses, especially under both homeostatic and disease states.

This Research Topic aims to elucidate the principles and mechanisms underlying tissue-immune crosstalk that instruct T cell fate decisions, specialization, and homeostasis. Through an emphasis on bidirectional communication between T cells and their tissue environment, we seek contributions that dissect fundamental regulatory circuits governing host defense, tolerance, and immune plasticity in health and pathology.

To gather further insights in tissue-specific regulation of T cell biology, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

-Tissue-specific antigen presentation and T cell activation
-Stromal and parenchymal cell–T cell interactions
-Microenvironmental influences on T cell metabolism and epigenetic programming
-Establishment, maintenance, and functions of tissue-resident memory T cells
-Impact of local cytokines, chemokines, and other soluble factors on T cell fate
-Spatial organization and migration of T cells within tissues
-Systems immunology and translational approaches for manipulating tissue-T cell crosstalk

The topic editors declare no conflict of interest

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  • Classification
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  • General Commentary
  • Hypothesis and Theory
  • Methods

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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
  • Editorial
  • FAIR² Data
  • General Commentary
  • Hypothesis and Theory
  • Methods
  • Mini Review
  • Opinion
  • Original Research
  • Perspective
  • Review
  • Systematic Review
  • Technology and Code

Keywords: Tissue-immune crosstalk, T cell differentiation, tissue-resident memory, stromal niche, thymic microenvironment, immune homeostasis, T cell signaling, single-cell omics, lineage fate decisions, immune modulation

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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