Interstitial lung disease in systemic immune-mediated diseases: from pathogenesis to precision management

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the most severe and clinically relevant complications across a broad spectrum of systemic immune-mediated diseases (IMIDs), including autoimmune diseases, autoinflammatory diseases, immunodeficiencies, and other complex inflammatory conditions. Among autoimmune diseases, systemic sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, ANCA-associated vasculitides, and systemic lupus erythematosus are closed associated with pulmonary involvement. Lung involvement is frequently associated with increased morbidity and mortality, reduced quality of life, and a substantial healthcare burden. In recent years, advances in immunopathology, high-resolution imaging, and biomarker discovery have significantly improved the understanding of disease mechanisms and clinical assessment of ILD. Nevertheless, the marked clinical, radiological, and biological heterogeneity of autoimmune-related ILD continues to pose major challenges for early diagnosis, prognostic stratification, and optimal therapeutic decision-making.

The goal of this Research Topic is to address key unmet needs in the understanding and management of ILD associated with autoimmune and systemic immune-mediated diseases. Despite recent progress, critical gaps remain in elucidating the pathogenic pathways linking immune dysregulation to lung injury and fibrotic remodeling, as well as in identifying patients at highest risk of disease progression. This Research Topic aims to promote an integrated translational and clinical approach, leveraging recent advances in molecular immunology, quantitative and AI-assisted imaging, functional and circulating biomarkers, and multi-omics technologies. A further objective is to support the development of precision medicine strategies that enable earlier diagnosis, improved risk stratification, and individualized therapeutic approaches. By fostering collaboration across disciplines, this Topic seeks to accelerate the translation of mechanistic insights into clinically actionable tools and evidence-based management strategies for autoimmune-related ILD.

This Research Topic welcomes original research articles, reviews, and expert perspectives addressing key aspects of autoimmune-related ILD, including but not limited to:
• Immunopathogenic mechanisms underlying lung inflammation and fibrosis
• Genetic susceptibility and environmental triggers in autoimmune ILD
• Advanced imaging techniques, quantitative radiology, and AI-based analysis
• Biomarkers, multi-omics approaches, and prognostic modeling
• Precision medicine strategies and personalized treatment algorithms
• Emerging immunomodulatory and antifibrotic therapies
• Multidisciplinary care models, early detection strategies, and real-world outcomes
• Clinical trial design, outcome measures, and patient-reported outcomes

Please note that Topic Editor Mariele Gatto has received honoraria from GSK, AstraZeneca, Boheringer.

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
• Clinical Trial
• Conceptual Analysis
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... 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
• Clinical Trial
• Conceptual Analysis
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Autoimmune diseases, Interstitial lung disease, Pulmonary fibrosis, Precision medicine, Biomarkers, Imaging, Immunopathogenesis

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.