About this Research Topic

Background

The complement system (C) is a critical arm of innate immunity and links both, innate and adaptive immunity. It is the first line of defense and protects the host by recognizing and eliminating foreign pathogens. C is a complex system consisting of three pathways and more than 50 proteins that are strictly regulated by strategically located proteins. When the regulation is disturbed or the system is overwhelmed, C goes awry inducing inflammatory responses. C dysregulation is involved in several autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), and myasthenia gravis (MG). Although C is an old field, this article collection is very timely since it will help collate what is known, the more recent novel discoveries of locale and function, and the increasing number of complement therapeutics, for which the lists continue to grow providing insights for C as a therapeutic target in autoimmune settings.

The goal of this collection is to collate and summarize the existing knowledge and the more recent developments concerning locations, interactions and functions of the C, enabling the advancement of complement therapeutics in autoimmune settings. To achieve this goal, the collection will assemble and organize the existing literature on preclinical, translational and clinical studies of the C in autoimmune conditions along with C therapeutics.

This Research Topic will include clinical and experimental research and Review articles focusing on, but not limited to:

1. The role of complement in familial and sporadic autoimmune inflammatory - thrombotic disorders, in which autoantibodies play a part. These include systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, atypical haemolytic uremic syndrome, anti-phospholipid syndrome and age-related macular degeneration
2. Complement in ANCA-associated vasculitis
3. Complement and kidney diseases such as C3 Glomerulopathy, IgA nephropathy, Anti- glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease etc.
4. Complement in neurologic diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, Myasthenia Gravis, Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder, Guillain-Barré Syndrome etc.
5. Complement in other diseases such as IgG4-related disease, Hidradenitis Suppurativa
6. Complement in transplantation and graft vs host

Keywords: complement, autoimmune, systemic lupus erythematosus, vasculitis, multiple sclerosis, transplant

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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