The Association Between HLA Genes and Autoimmune Liver Disease

  • 11k

    Total downloads

  • 35k

    Total views and downloads

Download PDFDownload EPUB

Submit your idea

Select the journal/section where you want your idea to be submitted:

Submit your manuscript summarySubmit your manuscript

About this Research Topic

Submission closed

Background

The liver is a tolerogenic organ. Despite receiving both dietary and microbial antigens from its dual blood supply comprising arterial blood and blood from the gut via the portal vein, it maintains tolerance to these foreign antigens through its unique and powerful immune system, working in harmony to protect liver parenchyma cells and bile ducts. However, when this tolerogenic status breaks down, autoimmune liver diseases [autoimmune hepatitis (AIH)/autoimmune sclerosing cholangitis (ASC)/primary biliary cholangitis (PBC)] occur. The possible triggers leading to tolerance breakdown include certain viral infections and drugs. There are also certain predisposition HLA genes such as HLA DRB1*0301 (DR3), - 0701 (DR7), -1301 (DR13) and haplotype HLA A1-B8-DR3 in patients of Northern European ancestry and DR4 in Chinese and Japanese for AIH/ASC and HLA DRB1*0801 for PBC. Patients possessing these genes have more severe liver disease than those without. In addition, there is preliminary data showing that patients with AIH/ASC with the HLA-DR3/DR7/DR13 genes display Treg frequency lower than non-HLA-DR3/DR7/DR13 subjects. This could indicate that autoimmune disease predisposition HLA genes are associated with overt autoantigen presentation and hamper immunoregulation, leading to perpetuation of liver autoimmunity. However, the exact mechanisms played by HLA genes in liver specific autoimmunity remains unknown and needs to be explored.

This Research Topic aims to establish the links between HLA genes and clinical manifestations in a diverse population so that it is inclusive of different races and ethnicities. Secondly, the aim is to provide insight into how HLA genes impact autoantigen presentation, with a particular focus on autoantigen specific immunoregulation. This may allow tailoring of future therapeutic interventions to block overt antigen presentation and thereby establish more effective control of autoimmune disease. The ultimate goal is to restore the liver tolerogenic status by the development of novel therapeutic approaches, including peptide vaccines, in order to replace the current need for lifelong immunosuppression.

In this Research Topic, we welcome the submission of Original Research, Review, Minireview, Case Report, Opinion and Methods articles that address, but are not limited to, the following subtopics:

1) The mechanism of autoantigen presentation, whether overt presentation leads to hepatocyte and bile duct inflammation in the manner of autoimmunity
2) The role of specific HLA profiles, either at a heterozygous or homozygous gene level or at the haplotype level on autoantigen presentation
3) Factors and agents leading to enhancing or decreasing the antigen presentation process
4) Methods and approaches to interfere with the process of antigen presentation, such as manipulation of immune cells with immunoregulatory properties, including Treg, B regulatory (Breg), NK cells and mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, and peptide vaccination

This Research Topic aims to establish the links between HLA genes and clinical manifestation in various racial groups, especially in rarely investigated populations, including African American, Central American and South American groups. This will provide insight into the impact of HLA genes on autoantigen presentation, with a particular focus on its influence on autoantigen specific immunoregulation and the possible intervention to block overt antigen presentation and to establish effective immunosuppression. The final goal in this field is to restore the liver tolerogenic status by the development of therapeutic approaches, such as a peptide vaccine in order to replace the current treatment of lifelong immunosuppressive steroids.

In this Research Topic, we welcome submissions of Original Research, Review, Minireview, Case Report, Opinion and Methods articles that address, but are not limited to, the following subtopics:

1) The mechanism of autoantigen presentation, whether overt presentation leads to hepatocyte and bile duct inflammation in the manner of autoimmunity
2) The role of specific HLA profiles, either at a heterozygous or homozygous gene level or at the haplotype level on autoantigen presentation
3) Factors and agents leading to enhancing or decreasing the antigen presentation process
4) Methods and approaches to interfere with the process of antigen presentation, such as manipulation of immune cells with immunoregulatory properties, including Treg, Breg, NK cells and mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, and peptide vaccination

Keywords: autoimmune liver diseases, HLA genes, autoantigen, tolerogenic, immunoregulation, inflammation

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.

Topic editors

Frequently asked questions

  • Frontiers' Research Topics are collaborative hubs built around an emerging theme.Defined, managed, and led by renowned researchers, they bring communities together around a shared area of interest to stimulate collaboration and innovation.

    Unlike section journals, which serve established specialty communities, Research Topics are pioneer hubs, responding to the evolving scientific landscape and catering to new communities.

  • The goal of Frontiers' publishing program is to empower research communities to actively steer the course of scientific publishing. Our program was implemented as a three-part unit with fixed field journals, flexible specialty sections, and dynamically emerging Research Topics, connecting communities of different sizes and maturity.

    Research Topics originate from the scientific community. Many of our Research Topics are suggested by existing editorial board members who have identified critical challenges or areas of interest in their field.

  • As an editor, Research Topics will help you build your journal, as well as your community, around emerging, cutting-edge research. As research trailblazers, Research Topics attract high-quality submissions from leading experts all over the world.

    A thriving Research Topic can potentially evolve into a new specialty section if there is sustained interest and a growing community around it.

  • Each Research Topic must be approved by the specialty chief editor, and it falls under the editorial oversight of our editorial boards, supported by our in-house research integrity team. The same standards and rigorous peer review processes apply to articles published as part of a Research Topic as for any other article we publish.

    In 2023, 80% of the Research Topics we published were edited or co-edited by our editorial board members, who are already familiar with their journal's scope, ethos, and publishing model. All other topics are guest edited by leaders in their field, each vetted and formally approved by the specialty chief editor.

  • Publishing your article within a Research Topic with other related articles increases its discoverability and visibility, which can lead to more views, downloads, and citations. Research Topics grow dynamically as more published articles are added, causing frequent revisiting, and further visibility.

    As Research Topics are multidisciplinary, they are cross-listed in several fields and section journals – increasing your reach even more and giving you the chance to expand your network and collaborate with researchers in different fields, all focusing on expanding knowledge around the same important topic.

    Our larger Research Topics are also converted into ebooks and receive social media promotion from our digital marketing team.

     

  • Frontiers offers multiple article types, but it will depend on the field and section journals in which the Research Topic will be featured. The available article types for a Research Topic will appear in the drop-down menu during the submission process.

    Check available article types here 

  • Yes, we would love to hear your ideas for a topic. Most of our Research Topics are community-led and suggested by researchers in the field. Our in-house editorial team will contact you to talk about your idea and whether you’d like to edit the topic. If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. 

    Suggest your topic here 

  • A team of guest editors (called topic editors) lead their Research Topic. This editorial team oversees the entire process, from the initial topic proposal to calls for participation, the peer review, and final publications.

    The team may also include topic coordinators, who help the topic editors send calls for participation, liaise with topic editors on abstracts, and support contributing authors. In some cases, they can also be assigned as reviewers.

  • As a topic editor (TE), you will take the lead on all editorial decisions for the Research Topic, starting with defining its scope. This allows you to curate research around a topic that interests you, bring together different perspectives from leading researchers across different fields and shape the future of your field. 

     

    You will choose your team of co-editors, curate a list of potential authors, send calls for participation and oversee the peer review process, accepting or recommending rejection for each manuscript submitted.

  • As a topic editor, you're supported at every stage by our in-house team. You will be assigned a single point of contact to help you on both editorial and technical matters. Your topic is managed through our user-friendly online platform, and the peer review process is supported by our industry-first AI review assistant (AIRA).

  • If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. This provides you with valuable editorial experience, improving your ability to critically evaluate research articles and enhancing your understanding of the quality standards and requirements for scientific publishing, as well as the opportunity to discover new research in your field, and expand your professional network.

  • Yes, certificates can be issued on request. We are happy to provide a certificate for your contribution to editing a successful Research Topic.

  • Research Topics thrive on collaboration and their multi-disciplinary approach around emerging, cutting-edge themes, attract leading researchers from all over the world.

  • As a topic editor, you can set the timeline for your Research Topic, and we will work with you at your pace. Typically, Research Topics are online and open for submissions within a few weeks and remain open for participation for 6 – 12 months. Individual articles within a Research Topic are published as soon as they are ready.

    Find out more about our Research Topics

  • Our fee support program ensures that all articles that pass peer review, including those published in Research Topics, can benefit from open access – regardless of the author's field or funding situation.

    Authors and institutions with insufficient funding can apply for a discount on their publishing fees. A fee support application form is available on our website.

  • In line with our mission to promote healthy lives on a healthy planet, we do not provide printed materials. All our articles and ebooks are available under a CC-BY license, so you can share and print copies.

     

Impact

  • 35kTopic views
  • 22kArticle views
  • 11kArticle downloads
View impact