A possible association between interstitial lung diseases and autoimmunity was first reported almost 40 years ago. Despite further reports linking immune deregulation and chronic lung injury, the role of autoimmunity had been severely underscored in the past mainly due to the disappointing results of immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory agents such as corticosteroids in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Most recently, the interest has been revived. Clinical observations fueled mechanistic discoveries on the role of immunity in lung injury and the identification of autoimmune phenomena as part of the fibrotic process.
With this Research Topic, we, therefore, aim to improve knowledge for the association of immunity and interstitial lung diseases.
We welcome authors from different subspecialties including pulmonary medicine, radiology, and rheumatology to present their original clinical or experimental research data, review articles, or exceptional case reports for the association of immunity and interstitial lung diseases. Experimental studies connecting immunity and lung injury, clinical studies for connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung diseases, and studies for post-COVID-19 interstitial lung diseases are among the subjects that are greatly anticipated.
A possible association between interstitial lung diseases and autoimmunity was first reported almost 40 years ago. Despite further reports linking immune deregulation and chronic lung injury, the role of autoimmunity had been severely underscored in the past mainly due to the disappointing results of immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory agents such as corticosteroids in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Most recently, the interest has been revived. Clinical observations fueled mechanistic discoveries on the role of immunity in lung injury and the identification of autoimmune phenomena as part of the fibrotic process.
With this Research Topic, we, therefore, aim to improve knowledge for the association of immunity and interstitial lung diseases.
We welcome authors from different subspecialties including pulmonary medicine, radiology, and rheumatology to present their original clinical or experimental research data, review articles, or exceptional case reports for the association of immunity and interstitial lung diseases. Experimental studies connecting immunity and lung injury, clinical studies for connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung diseases, and studies for post-COVID-19 interstitial lung diseases are among the subjects that are greatly anticipated.