About this Research Topic
The progressive refinement of mass spectrometers has allowed an impressive development in the field of Immunopeptidomics, a novel discipline addressing the study of peptide repertoires presented by MHC molecules. The knowledge emerging from this technology has successfully expanded our understanding of the mechanisms behind antigen processing and presentation, as well as contributing to the discovery of T-cell epitopes for a multitude of immune-controlled conditions, ranging from infectious diseases to cancer. One of the areas that has experienced a more significant progression due to the advancement of Immunopeptidomics corresponds to the identification of potential T-cell epitopes (and their posttranslational modifications). These epitopes are involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, a feature that had remained largely obscure for decades. These discoveries have led to an enhanced comprehension of the link between autoimmune diseases and HLA risk alleles, the mechanisms underlying central and peripheral tolerance, in addition to the proposal of newly discovered peptides as promising diagnostic or therapeutic tools for autoimmune conditions.
The present Research Topic is intended to offer a general account of the most important contributions that Immunopeptidomics have made to the discovery of immunodominant CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell epitopes driving self-targeted immune responses involved in a variety of autoimmune diseases, as well as the most recent developments in the field.
We welcome the submission of Original Research, Reviews, Mini-reviews and Perspective articles on themes including, but not restricted to, the following:
• Peptide repertoires presented by autoimmunity risk-associated HLA class I or II molecules
• The use of Immunopeptidomics in the study of immune tolerance mechanisms
• Characterization of CD4+ or CD8+ T-cell epitopes relevant to autoimmune diseases, obtained through Immunopeptidomic approaches.
• Identification of posttranslational modifications within the immunopeptidome relevant to autoimmune diseases
• Immunopeptidomics applied to animal models of autoimmunity
• Methodological advances in the field of Immunopeptidomics
• Application of Immunopeptidomics for therapeutic approaches
The present Research Topic is intended to offer a general account of the most important contributions that Immunopeptidomics have made to the discovery of immunodominant CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell epitopes driving self-targeted immune responses involved in a variety of autoimmune diseases, as well as the most recent developments in the field.
We welcome the submission of Original Research, Reviews, Mini-reviews and Perspective articles on themes including, but not restricted to, the following:
• Peptide repertoires presented by autoimmunity risk-associated HLA class I or II molecules
• The use of Immunopeptidomics in the study of immune tolerance mechanisms
• Characterization of CD4+ or CD8+ T-cell epitopes relevant to autoimmune diseases, obtained through Immunopeptidomic approaches.
• Identification of posttranslational modifications within the immunopeptidome relevant to autoimmune diseases
• Immunopeptidomics applied to animal models of autoimmunity
• Methodological advances in the field of Immunopeptidomics
• Application of Immunopeptidomics for therapeutic approaches
Keywords: Immunopeptidomics, T-cell epitopes, Post-translational modifications, Peptide repertoires
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.
