The complex etiology of autoimmune diseases involves the interaction between a variety of environmental exposures and genetic risk factors affecting key pathogenic steps involving loss of self-tolerance and recurrent autoreactive responses. Environmental exposures in this context can include toxicants, such as components of air pollution (e.g., , silica, particulate matter), persistent organic pollutants, solvents, endocrine disruptors, and infectious agents, as well as tobacco smoke and dietary factors.
The goal of this Research Topic is to share insights and advances gained in environmental health sciences applied to the spectrum of autoimmunity and autoimmune diseases, including systemic rheumatic diseases (e.g., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis), type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune thyroid diseases, and others. The cross-cutting nature of environmental health research has the potential to reduce the silos that often arise from the disease-specific focus of much epidemiological and clinical research. Important insights from environmental research can draw from studies across multiple autoimmune diseases in which commonalities of effects of specific exposures have been observed, adding to understanding of shared mechanistic pathways and potential avenues for prevention and therapeutic interventions.
We encourage submission of original manuscripts on the topic of environmental influences on autoimmunity and autoimmune disease. This work can address the relationship between exposures and outcomes as well as methodologic research addressing exposure assessment issues relevant to specific phases of disease development and progression. We encourage submissions from all geographic settings and populations, encompassing the translational
research continuum from basic science to clinical and epidemiological studies, and including a variety of experimental, clinic- and population-based study designs. The manuscript format may be brief report, full-length article, systematic reviews, or original commentaries.
The complex etiology of autoimmune diseases involves the interaction between a variety of environmental exposures and genetic risk factors affecting key pathogenic steps involving loss of self-tolerance and recurrent autoreactive responses. Environmental exposures in this context can include toxicants, such as components of air pollution (e.g., , silica, particulate matter), persistent organic pollutants, solvents, endocrine disruptors, and infectious agents, as well as tobacco smoke and dietary factors.
The goal of this Research Topic is to share insights and advances gained in environmental health sciences applied to the spectrum of autoimmunity and autoimmune diseases, including systemic rheumatic diseases (e.g., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis), type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune thyroid diseases, and others. The cross-cutting nature of environmental health research has the potential to reduce the silos that often arise from the disease-specific focus of much epidemiological and clinical research. Important insights from environmental research can draw from studies across multiple autoimmune diseases in which commonalities of effects of specific exposures have been observed, adding to understanding of shared mechanistic pathways and potential avenues for prevention and therapeutic interventions.
We encourage submission of original manuscripts on the topic of environmental influences on autoimmunity and autoimmune disease. This work can address the relationship between exposures and outcomes as well as methodologic research addressing exposure assessment issues relevant to specific phases of disease development and progression. We encourage submissions from all geographic settings and populations, encompassing the translational
research continuum from basic science to clinical and epidemiological studies, and including a variety of experimental, clinic- and population-based study designs. The manuscript format may be brief report, full-length article, systematic reviews, or original commentaries.