Innate immune cells constitute a highly specialized and evolutionarily conserved arm of the immune system, responsible for immediate recognition and response to microbial and endogenous danger signals. Beyond their classical role in the initiation of immune responses, accumulating evidence underscores their involvement in immune regulation, tissue remodeling, and crosstalk with adaptive immunity. This Research Topic aims to provide a comprehensive and integrative overview of the functions and dysregulations of innate immune cells across physiological and pathological states.
From early embryogenesis, innate immune populations, including macrophages, monocytes, neutrophils, dendritic cells, innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), and natural killer (NK) cells, participate in organogenesis, immune tolerance, and barrier establishment. In the neonatal period, these cells are pivotal in guiding immune maturation and in shaping host-microbial interactions critical for long-term homeostasis. Throughout adulthood, they maintain tissue surveillance, coordinate inflammatory responses, and regulate adaptive immune activation.
Importantly, the biology of innate immune cells is not static. With advancing age, these cells exhibit phenotypic and functional alterations characteristic of immunosenescence, contributing to impaired pathogen clearance, suboptimal vaccine responses, chronic low-grade inflammation (“inflammaging”), and increased susceptibility to age-related disorders.
This Research Topic will bring together original research articles, systematic reviews, and perspectives that address the multifaceted roles of innate immune cells in diverse research domains. We invite submissions covering, but not limited to, their contributions to tumor immunology, host-pathogen interactions, autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases, immunosenescence, and their integration within neuroimmune and neuroendocrine networks. Studies employing advanced approaches such as single-cell technologies, systems immunology, and translational or preclinical models are particularly encouraged.
By consolidating recent advances across disciplines, this collection will continue to offer a state-of-the-art view of innate immunity and its implications for health, disease, and therapeutic innovation. It will serve as a platform to stimulate interdisciplinary dialogue and foster novel insights into the dynamic roles of innate immune cells across the lifespan.
This Research Topic is the second volume of the collection on “The functional plasticity of innate immune cells”. Please see the first volume here.
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:
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.
