Metabolic diseases, including but not limited to diabetes mellitus, metabolic-associated fatty liver disease, hyperlipidemia, hyperuricemia, and gout, are significant global health challenges. These disorders arise from intricate interactions involving genetic predispositions, environmental exposures, lifestyles, the microbiome, and crucially, immune system dysregulation. Recent applications of multi-omics analyses have revealed complex cross-talk between diverse immune cells and tissue-specific cells, underscoring the immune system’s centrality in metabolic disease onset and progression. While substantial progress has been made in identifying diagnostic and therapeutic approaches—such as stem cell treatments, small-molecule drugs, biologics, and phytochemicals—persistent knowledge gaps remain regarding the mechanistic functions of immune cells like macrophages and lymphocytes. Ongoing debates focus on the precise immune pathways responsible for tissue inflammation, damage, and metabolic dysfunction, driving a pressing need for deeper investigation into immunoregulatory mechanisms.
This Research Topic aims to advance understanding of the immune regulatory networks and their aberrations in the context of metabolic disease development. It seeks to highlight how immune dysregulation contributes to disease pathogenesis and progression, while stimulating the identification and validation of novel immunomodulatory targets. Further, the Research Topic promotes the exploration and assessment of innovative immune-focused therapeutic strategies, including the discovery and clinical evaluation of new drugs. Ultimately, the goal is to contribute substantive new knowledge that will enhance approaches to diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and improved outcomes for patients suffering from metabolic diseases.
Research in this area will be focused on the immunoregulatory dynamics and therapeutic interventions specifically targeting metabolic diseases, while excluding unrelated chronic disorders or non-immune-based approaches. To gather further insights in this defined scope, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• The specific functions and clinical significance of immune cells in metabolic diseases • Elucidation of molecular mechanisms by which immune cells drive inflammation and tissue injury, focusing on cell types such as macrophages and lymphocytes • The role of small molecules, cytokines, and other immune regulatory factors in metabolic disease development and progression • Mechanisms of molecular pathways (including nuclear and membrane receptor pathways) affecting immune responses in metabolic disorders • Development and clinical trials of innovative immunomodulatory drugs for metabolic diseases • New findings on how existing metabolic disease drugs influence immune regulation
We welcome a variety of article types, including original research, reviews, mini-reviews, and clinical trial reports.
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
Editorial
FAIR² Data
General Commentary
Hypothesis and Theory
Methods
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
Editorial
FAIR² Data
General Commentary
Hypothesis and Theory
Methods
Mini Review
Opinion
Original Research
Perspective
Review
Study Protocol
Systematic Review
Technology and Code
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.
