A balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory processes is necessary for an effective immune response. During inflammation, immune cells such as T-helper cells (Th), macrophages, and innate lymphoid cells polarize in response to inflammatory signals and perform specialized functions in a time- and context-dependent manner. A dysbalance of polarized immune responses is associated with the pathogenesis of various diseases, including chronic inflammation, immunoparalysis, fibrosis, infection, autoimmunity, or neurodegeneration. Additionally, tumor cells secrete immunomodulatory mediators to polarize surrounding immune cells, which results in the development of a tolerogenic tumor-microenvironment and facilitates the spread of cancer cells. Therefore, cells such as tumor-associated macrophages and Tregs have emerged as targets in treatment strategies in preclinical and clinical studies.
The polarization of immune cells is a complex process involving the tissue microenvironment and additional intrinsic or extrinsic factors. Accordingly, existing paradigms and models only incompletely represent the polarized cellular phenotypes in vivo. Efforts to better define polarized immune cells regarding their markers and functionality are advancing. However, a better understanding of the polarized immune cells and their role in the development of inflammation-related diseases may help determine new targets for therapeutic interventions or biomarker research.
Thus, this research topic aims to highlight studies investigating the polarization of immune cells or polarization-related signaling pathways in either self-limiting resolving inflammation or non-resolving inflammatory processes (cancer, inflammatory autoimmune diseases, or chronic inflammation of infection). Studies that investigate in vitro or ex vivo polarized immune cells for cellular therapy or provide new perspectives on application fields are also encouraged.
We welcome the submission of original research, review, mini-review, methods, opinion, and general commentary articles that cover, but are not limited to, the following areas:
• Type 1, type 2, type 3 immunity (related to Th1/Th2/Th17 phenotype)
• Tolerogenic/immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment
• Tumor-associated macrophages/myeloid suppressor cells
• M1(-like) / M2(-like) macrophages
• Cytokine-mediated pathways of immune cell polarization
• Regulatory T cells in the context of inflammation and cancer
• Reprogramming of immune cells
• Polarized immune cells in cell therapy
• Polarized immune cells in resolving and non-resolving inflammation
The Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.
A balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory processes is necessary for an effective immune response. During inflammation, immune cells such as T-helper cells (Th), macrophages, and innate lymphoid cells polarize in response to inflammatory signals and perform specialized functions in a time- and context-dependent manner. A dysbalance of polarized immune responses is associated with the pathogenesis of various diseases, including chronic inflammation, immunoparalysis, fibrosis, infection, autoimmunity, or neurodegeneration. Additionally, tumor cells secrete immunomodulatory mediators to polarize surrounding immune cells, which results in the development of a tolerogenic tumor-microenvironment and facilitates the spread of cancer cells. Therefore, cells such as tumor-associated macrophages and Tregs have emerged as targets in treatment strategies in preclinical and clinical studies.
The polarization of immune cells is a complex process involving the tissue microenvironment and additional intrinsic or extrinsic factors. Accordingly, existing paradigms and models only incompletely represent the polarized cellular phenotypes in vivo. Efforts to better define polarized immune cells regarding their markers and functionality are advancing. However, a better understanding of the polarized immune cells and their role in the development of inflammation-related diseases may help determine new targets for therapeutic interventions or biomarker research.
Thus, this research topic aims to highlight studies investigating the polarization of immune cells or polarization-related signaling pathways in either self-limiting resolving inflammation or non-resolving inflammatory processes (cancer, inflammatory autoimmune diseases, or chronic inflammation of infection). Studies that investigate in vitro or ex vivo polarized immune cells for cellular therapy or provide new perspectives on application fields are also encouraged.
We welcome the submission of original research, review, mini-review, methods, opinion, and general commentary articles that cover, but are not limited to, the following areas:
• Type 1, type 2, type 3 immunity (related to Th1/Th2/Th17 phenotype)
• Tolerogenic/immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment
• Tumor-associated macrophages/myeloid suppressor cells
• M1(-like) / M2(-like) macrophages
• Cytokine-mediated pathways of immune cell polarization
• Regulatory T cells in the context of inflammation and cancer
• Reprogramming of immune cells
• Polarized immune cells in cell therapy
• Polarized immune cells in resolving and non-resolving inflammation
The Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.
