About this Research Topic
The immune system is our primary defence against pathogens and abnormal cells, including cancer. The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) encodes proteins that present antigens to immune cells. MHC proteins bind fragments of foreign or abnormal cells, triggering a potent immune response. Interactions between MHC antigens and immune cells are crucial for a healthy immune response. Dysregulation can lead to various human diseases. Genetic variations in MHC genes disrupt immune tolerance, causing autoimmune diseases. Impairment of MHC expression hinders cancer detection and contributes to its development. Certain MHC alleles increase susceptibility to viral infections like HIV and hepatitis B and C. Specific MHC-peptide interactions are vital for eliminating cancer cells.
Understanding the molecular mechanisms of MHC antigen and immune cell interactions is crucial for developing therapies. Targeting MHC molecules and their interactions with immune cells shows potential in treating autoimmune diseases and cancer. Exploring and specifically targeting MHC antigens and immune cells offer promising approaches for combating various human diseases. Comprehensive understanding could lead to groundbreaking therapies for autoimmune diseases, cancer, and immune-related illnesses.
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) plays a critical role in the immune responses by presenting antigens to immune cells, triggering specific immune reactions against pathogens, and also diseased cells. However, MHC-mediated immune responses can sometimes lead to autoimmune diseases or contribute to immune evasion by cancer cells. This Research Topic aims to explore innovative and precise methods for targeting MHC antigens and immune cells to effectively address human diseases. New possibilities in gene editing technologies for targeting MHC genes and immune cell receptors include CRISPR-Cas9. CRISPR can be used to modify MHC antigen expression, modulating immune responses as needed, allowing for therapeutic peptide vaccines to be developed, which are tailored to specific MHC alleles can enhance immune recognition and response against diseased cells. High-affinity peptide-MHC tetramers allow precise identification and enumeration of antigen-specific T cells, aiding in monitoring immune responses, assessing disease progression, and identifying new therapeutic targets.
Computational methods, including molecular modelling and systems biology, are essential for understanding MHC-antigen interactions and predicting potential immunotherapeutic targets, allowing for improvements in the specificity and efficacy of CAR-T cell therapies. Integrating these approaches streamlines target identification and the design of targeted therapies. This research topic aims to explore the combination of these innovative approaches and recent advancements. This will pave the way for more efficient and personalized therapies that specifically target MHC antigens and immune cells, leading to improved outcomes for autoimmune disorders, cancers, and various human diseases. Nonetheless, further research, along with extensive preclinical and clinical studies, will be necessary to validate the safety and efficacy of these novel therapeutic strategies.
We encourage the submission of original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that address the following, but not limited to, sub-topics:
• The role of Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens in T-cell derived immune response regulation and their diversity and polymorphism across human populations.
• MHC antigen presentation in the recognition of pathogens and altered self-cells, and the association between MHC alleles and susceptibility to autoimmune diseases.
• The significance of MHC in graft rejection and organ transplantation outcomes, and the interaction between MHC molecules and T-cell receptors during antigen recognition.
• The impact of MHC variability and MHC molecules in tumor immunosurveillance and cancer progression for MHC-based therapeutics.
• Mechanisms of MHC downregulation in immune evasion by pathogens and cancer cells, and the influence of MHC antigen presentation on vaccine design and efficacy.
• The use of CRISPR/Cas9 technology in targeted MHC gene editing for therapeutic purposes, and the challenges in manipulating MHC antigens for disease treatment.
Topic editor Dr. Brian Baker is on the scientific advisory board for T-cure Bioscience, and receives funding and consults for Eureka Therapeutics. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject.
Understanding the molecular mechanisms of MHC antigen and immune cell interactions is crucial for developing therapies. Targeting MHC molecules and their interactions with immune cells shows potential in treating autoimmune diseases and cancer. Exploring and specifically targeting MHC antigens and immune cells offer promising approaches for combating various human diseases. Comprehensive understanding could lead to groundbreaking therapies for autoimmune diseases, cancer, and immune-related illnesses.
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) plays a critical role in the immune responses by presenting antigens to immune cells, triggering specific immune reactions against pathogens, and also diseased cells. However, MHC-mediated immune responses can sometimes lead to autoimmune diseases or contribute to immune evasion by cancer cells. This Research Topic aims to explore innovative and precise methods for targeting MHC antigens and immune cells to effectively address human diseases. New possibilities in gene editing technologies for targeting MHC genes and immune cell receptors include CRISPR-Cas9. CRISPR can be used to modify MHC antigen expression, modulating immune responses as needed, allowing for therapeutic peptide vaccines to be developed, which are tailored to specific MHC alleles can enhance immune recognition and response against diseased cells. High-affinity peptide-MHC tetramers allow precise identification and enumeration of antigen-specific T cells, aiding in monitoring immune responses, assessing disease progression, and identifying new therapeutic targets.
Computational methods, including molecular modelling and systems biology, are essential for understanding MHC-antigen interactions and predicting potential immunotherapeutic targets, allowing for improvements in the specificity and efficacy of CAR-T cell therapies. Integrating these approaches streamlines target identification and the design of targeted therapies. This research topic aims to explore the combination of these innovative approaches and recent advancements. This will pave the way for more efficient and personalized therapies that specifically target MHC antigens and immune cells, leading to improved outcomes for autoimmune disorders, cancers, and various human diseases. Nonetheless, further research, along with extensive preclinical and clinical studies, will be necessary to validate the safety and efficacy of these novel therapeutic strategies.
We encourage the submission of original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that address the following, but not limited to, sub-topics:
• The role of Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens in T-cell derived immune response regulation and their diversity and polymorphism across human populations.
• MHC antigen presentation in the recognition of pathogens and altered self-cells, and the association between MHC alleles and susceptibility to autoimmune diseases.
• The significance of MHC in graft rejection and organ transplantation outcomes, and the interaction between MHC molecules and T-cell receptors during antigen recognition.
• The impact of MHC variability and MHC molecules in tumor immunosurveillance and cancer progression for MHC-based therapeutics.
• Mechanisms of MHC downregulation in immune evasion by pathogens and cancer cells, and the influence of MHC antigen presentation on vaccine design and efficacy.
• The use of CRISPR/Cas9 technology in targeted MHC gene editing for therapeutic purposes, and the challenges in manipulating MHC antigens for disease treatment.
Topic editor Dr. Brian Baker is on the scientific advisory board for T-cure Bioscience, and receives funding and consults for Eureka Therapeutics. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject.
Keywords: Major histocompatibility complex (MHC), Cancer, Infectious Diseases, Autoimmune Disorders, Immunotherapy, Immune Cells, Antigen Presentation, Disease Susceptibility, Therapeutic Strategies, T-cell
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
