Autoimmune disorders are characterized by a loss of the ability of the immune system to distinguish between healthy tissues and foreign antigens resulting in a series of immunological reactions which ultimately lead to organ or tissue damage. The immune system mistakenly recognizes self-antigens as nonself-antigens and starts producing antibodies against them termed autoantibodies. These noxious autoantibodies can damage single or multiple organs, including the skin, joints, endocrine glands, blood vessels, red blood cells, muscles, and connective tissues.
Currently, steroidal or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, immunosuppressive agents, and biologics are the mainstay for managing different etiologies of autoimmune diseases. Unfortunately, most of these therapeutic agents are non-specific for a particular autoimmune disease and are accompanied by severe side effects. The poor understanding of disease-specific molecular pathology is responsible for sub-optimal clinical outcomes in autoimmune disorders. That is why complete eradication of the disease remains impossible. However, novel molecular mechanisms are being unearthed, making us better understand new molecular aspects of autoimmune diseases. Thus, up-to-date molecular understanding of autoimmune inflammation paves the way and sets novel targets for drug design and repositioning.
In this Research Topic, we welcome original research articles, review articles, commentary, and perspectives on the following subtopics but are not limited to:
• New strategies for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
• Elucidating molecular mechanisms of anti-inflammatory drugs in autoimmune disease
• Elaborating on novel drug candidates, either natural, synthetic, or of biological origin, for the treatment of autoimmune disorders
• Repositioning existing therapeutic agents with novel drug targets specifically for autoimmune disorders
Please note that this Research Topic does not accept publication studies carried out with crude extracts or mixtures. Only the use of highly purified, chemically characterized compounds is acceptable.
Autoimmune disorders are characterized by a loss of the ability of the immune system to distinguish between healthy tissues and foreign antigens resulting in a series of immunological reactions which ultimately lead to organ or tissue damage. The immune system mistakenly recognizes self-antigens as nonself-antigens and starts producing antibodies against them termed autoantibodies. These noxious autoantibodies can damage single or multiple organs, including the skin, joints, endocrine glands, blood vessels, red blood cells, muscles, and connective tissues.
Currently, steroidal or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, immunosuppressive agents, and biologics are the mainstay for managing different etiologies of autoimmune diseases. Unfortunately, most of these therapeutic agents are non-specific for a particular autoimmune disease and are accompanied by severe side effects. The poor understanding of disease-specific molecular pathology is responsible for sub-optimal clinical outcomes in autoimmune disorders. That is why complete eradication of the disease remains impossible. However, novel molecular mechanisms are being unearthed, making us better understand new molecular aspects of autoimmune diseases. Thus, up-to-date molecular understanding of autoimmune inflammation paves the way and sets novel targets for drug design and repositioning.
In this Research Topic, we welcome original research articles, review articles, commentary, and perspectives on the following subtopics but are not limited to:
• New strategies for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
• Elucidating molecular mechanisms of anti-inflammatory drugs in autoimmune disease
• Elaborating on novel drug candidates, either natural, synthetic, or of biological origin, for the treatment of autoimmune disorders
• Repositioning existing therapeutic agents with novel drug targets specifically for autoimmune disorders
Please note that this Research Topic does not accept publication studies carried out with crude extracts or mixtures. Only the use of highly purified, chemically characterized compounds is acceptable.