Allergic diseases including allergic rhinitis (AR), asthma, atopic dermatitis, and food allergy are chronic, inflammatory, and progressive diseases, with occasionally life-threatening presentations. Besides the traditional concept of adaptive immunity being involved in the development of allergen-specific inflammation and immune memory, innate immune and tissue-resident cells are also extensively involved in the onset and maintenance of allergic responses. Mucosal barriers are the site of constant interactions between resident epithelial cells, innate immune cells like dendritic cells, innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), NK cells, monocytes/macrophages, and mesenchymal cells like fibroblasts. The activation of innate lymphoid cells such as group 2 ILCs (ILC2s), epithelial barrier impairment, and their interaction with other adaptive immune and stromal cells contribute to the establishment and progression of the disease-specific status. Further research is required to understand the specific mechanisms and the underlying roles of the interactions between resident, innate, and adaptive immune cells in the development of allergic diseases.
Given the importance of innate immune cells and resident cells in allergic diseases, it is promising to explore potential approaches that target these cells or their mediators to develop novel therapeutics. It has been shown that allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT), inducing long-term immune tolerance, also works through changes in the innate immune cell populations. Moreover, the development and application of monoclonal antibodies and small molecules against innate cells mediators (TSLP, IL-33, IL-25, and PGD2) will finally bring more therapeutic options for allergic diseases. Nonetheless, other molecules of different characteristics such as extracellular vesicles (EVs), lipid mediators, metabolites, non-coding RNA, and others remain to be studied, particularly in complex and chronic allergic inflammation. EVs, the nano-sized, bilipid-layered vesicles, released by almost every type of cell, can carry various biological components including proteins and miRNAs. Thus, they are considered to be important regulators in intercellular communication and may constitute potential therapeutic targets. Furthermore, current studies have shown that EVs from mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) play important roles in allergic airway inflammation including via acting on ILC2s. Therefore, the effects of EVs derived from MSCs have the potential immunomodulation on innate immune and resident cells in allergic inflammation. Finally, prophylactic and therapeutic approaches targeting the impairment of epithelial barriers constitute an urgent unmet medical need in allergic diseases.
This Research Topic endeavors to highlight recent advances and discoveries in the area of innate immune and resident cells in allergic disease and generate a collection of state-of-the-art research articles on the diverse mechanisms they are involved in, seeking potential novel therapeutic targets. We welcome all article types focusing on the role of innate immune and resident cells and their interactions with adaptive immune cells in allergic diseases. We would in particular encourage authors to investigate possible therapeutics targeting innate immune and resident cells. We welcome submissions covering, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:
• Review articles on our current understanding of innate immune and resident cells in allergic inflammation
• Novel molecular mechanisms of the immunomodulatory effects of innate immune and resident cells in allergic diseases
• The immunomodulatory effects of EVs from innate immune and resident cells in allergic inflammation
• The immunomodulatory effects of lipids, metabolites and non-coding RNAs of innate immune and resident cells’ origin in allergic inflammation
• Therapeutics targeting the innate immune and resident cells or blocking their interactions with other cells in allergic diseases
• The role of EVs derived from mesenchymal stromal cells in allergic diseases, especially the novel mechanisms involved in their therapeutic effects
Allergic diseases including allergic rhinitis (AR), asthma, atopic dermatitis, and food allergy are chronic, inflammatory, and progressive diseases, with occasionally life-threatening presentations. Besides the traditional concept of adaptive immunity being involved in the development of allergen-specific inflammation and immune memory, innate immune and tissue-resident cells are also extensively involved in the onset and maintenance of allergic responses. Mucosal barriers are the site of constant interactions between resident epithelial cells, innate immune cells like dendritic cells, innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), NK cells, monocytes/macrophages, and mesenchymal cells like fibroblasts. The activation of innate lymphoid cells such as group 2 ILCs (ILC2s), epithelial barrier impairment, and their interaction with other adaptive immune and stromal cells contribute to the establishment and progression of the disease-specific status. Further research is required to understand the specific mechanisms and the underlying roles of the interactions between resident, innate, and adaptive immune cells in the development of allergic diseases.
Given the importance of innate immune cells and resident cells in allergic diseases, it is promising to explore potential approaches that target these cells or their mediators to develop novel therapeutics. It has been shown that allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT), inducing long-term immune tolerance, also works through changes in the innate immune cell populations. Moreover, the development and application of monoclonal antibodies and small molecules against innate cells mediators (TSLP, IL-33, IL-25, and PGD2) will finally bring more therapeutic options for allergic diseases. Nonetheless, other molecules of different characteristics such as extracellular vesicles (EVs), lipid mediators, metabolites, non-coding RNA, and others remain to be studied, particularly in complex and chronic allergic inflammation. EVs, the nano-sized, bilipid-layered vesicles, released by almost every type of cell, can carry various biological components including proteins and miRNAs. Thus, they are considered to be important regulators in intercellular communication and may constitute potential therapeutic targets. Furthermore, current studies have shown that EVs from mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) play important roles in allergic airway inflammation including via acting on ILC2s. Therefore, the effects of EVs derived from MSCs have the potential immunomodulation on innate immune and resident cells in allergic inflammation. Finally, prophylactic and therapeutic approaches targeting the impairment of epithelial barriers constitute an urgent unmet medical need in allergic diseases.
This Research Topic endeavors to highlight recent advances and discoveries in the area of innate immune and resident cells in allergic disease and generate a collection of state-of-the-art research articles on the diverse mechanisms they are involved in, seeking potential novel therapeutic targets. We welcome all article types focusing on the role of innate immune and resident cells and their interactions with adaptive immune cells in allergic diseases. We would in particular encourage authors to investigate possible therapeutics targeting innate immune and resident cells. We welcome submissions covering, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:
• Review articles on our current understanding of innate immune and resident cells in allergic inflammation
• Novel molecular mechanisms of the immunomodulatory effects of innate immune and resident cells in allergic diseases
• The immunomodulatory effects of EVs from innate immune and resident cells in allergic inflammation
• The immunomodulatory effects of lipids, metabolites and non-coding RNAs of innate immune and resident cells’ origin in allergic inflammation
• Therapeutics targeting the innate immune and resident cells or blocking their interactions with other cells in allergic diseases
• The role of EVs derived from mesenchymal stromal cells in allergic diseases, especially the novel mechanisms involved in their therapeutic effects