Organ transplantation is an important treatment for end-stage organ failure in a variety of diseases. Maintaining long-term graft function is a major challenge due to the obstacle of chronic immune-induced rejection. Achieving immune tolerance is also a highly anticipated goal, as it will free patients from their reliance on immunosuppressive drugs. The presence of regulatory immune cells in transplant recipients can shift the balance away from rejection and toward immune regulation, which contributes to immune homeostasis reconstruction and regulation, as well as the induction of immune tolerance.
These regulatory immune cells modulate the immune response by migrating to the allograft or secreting cytokines, suppressing effector cells, and inducing other regulatory cells. Regulatory T cells (Tregs), such as Foxp3+ Tregs, have been extensively studied for their ability to suppress immune responses. Continuously, new subsets of regulatory T cells, as well as other cell subsets with established immunomodulatory functions, including regulatory B cells, regulatory macrophages, tolerogenic dendritic cells (DCs), and various myeloid-derived immunosuppressive cell populations (such as MDSC), have been identified. However, the mechanism and clinical value of these cells in transplantation immune regulation and tolerance induction have not been fully elucidated. Furthermore, no specific marker or transcription factor for regulatory B cells, regulatory macrophages, or tolerogenic DCs have been identified. Therefore, further studies are needed to explore the mechanism of immune regulatory cells in transplantation immunity and explore their potential therapeutic value in regulating immunity and inducing tolerance. In addition, we welcome studies evaluating more specific markers or transcription factors to define unique and consistent subsets of immune regulatory cells.
In this Research Topic, the submission of original basic, Case Reports, Review, Mini Review, and Hypothesis articles that cover, but are not limited to, the following subtopics will be encouraged:
1. Novel role and mechanism of regulatory immune cells in transplant immune homeostasis or graft rejection.
2. Potential clinical applications of therapies based on regulatory immune cells to promote immune homeostasis and induce immune tolerance.
3. The establishment of accurate prediction of immune homeostasis or early warning system of immune disorders in organ transplantation based on regulatory immune cells or molecules.
4. The impact of immunosuppressive drugs on the function and generation of regulatory immune cells.
5. Discovery of novel subsets of regulatory immune cells or identifying different subpopulations of regulatory immune cells with specific surface markers and transcription factors.
Organ transplantation is an important treatment for end-stage organ failure in a variety of diseases. Maintaining long-term graft function is a major challenge due to the obstacle of chronic immune-induced rejection. Achieving immune tolerance is also a highly anticipated goal, as it will free patients from their reliance on immunosuppressive drugs. The presence of regulatory immune cells in transplant recipients can shift the balance away from rejection and toward immune regulation, which contributes to immune homeostasis reconstruction and regulation, as well as the induction of immune tolerance.
These regulatory immune cells modulate the immune response by migrating to the allograft or secreting cytokines, suppressing effector cells, and inducing other regulatory cells. Regulatory T cells (Tregs), such as Foxp3+ Tregs, have been extensively studied for their ability to suppress immune responses. Continuously, new subsets of regulatory T cells, as well as other cell subsets with established immunomodulatory functions, including regulatory B cells, regulatory macrophages, tolerogenic dendritic cells (DCs), and various myeloid-derived immunosuppressive cell populations (such as MDSC), have been identified. However, the mechanism and clinical value of these cells in transplantation immune regulation and tolerance induction have not been fully elucidated. Furthermore, no specific marker or transcription factor for regulatory B cells, regulatory macrophages, or tolerogenic DCs have been identified. Therefore, further studies are needed to explore the mechanism of immune regulatory cells in transplantation immunity and explore their potential therapeutic value in regulating immunity and inducing tolerance. In addition, we welcome studies evaluating more specific markers or transcription factors to define unique and consistent subsets of immune regulatory cells.
In this Research Topic, the submission of original basic, Case Reports, Review, Mini Review, and Hypothesis articles that cover, but are not limited to, the following subtopics will be encouraged:
1. Novel role and mechanism of regulatory immune cells in transplant immune homeostasis or graft rejection.
2. Potential clinical applications of therapies based on regulatory immune cells to promote immune homeostasis and induce immune tolerance.
3. The establishment of accurate prediction of immune homeostasis or early warning system of immune disorders in organ transplantation based on regulatory immune cells or molecules.
4. The impact of immunosuppressive drugs on the function and generation of regulatory immune cells.
5. Discovery of novel subsets of regulatory immune cells or identifying different subpopulations of regulatory immune cells with specific surface markers and transcription factors.
