About this Research Topic
Cirrhosis, a progressive liver disease, encompasses compensated and decompensated stages, with the latter marked by complications from portal hypertension and hepatic insufficiency. The systemic effects extend beyond the liver, impacting various organs, including the immune system. Cirrhosis-associated immune dysfunction (CAID) manifests in two key components: systemic inflammation and immune deficiency, varying in intensity across cirrhosis stages. Patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) exhibit the most severe immune alterations, contributing to increased infection risk and organ failure. Additionally, dysbiosis in cirrhosis alters intestinal microbiota, disrupting the gut-liver-brain axis and accelerating disease progression.
The Research Topic aims to address the intricate interplay between liver disease and immune dysfunction. With CAID being a critical factor in cirrhosis complications, understanding and mitigating its impact are imperative. Exploring the reversible nature of immune alterations, especially in ACLF, could guide therapeutic interventions. Investigating the gut-liver-brain axis disruptions due to dysbiosis presents an opportunity to target disease progression. Studying the low-grade and high-grade systemic inflammatory phenotypes provides insights into immune responses at different cirrhosis stages. Efforts should focus on identifying biomarkers indicative of immune dysfunction, paving the way for precision medicine in cirrhotic patients.
This Research Topic aims to contribute to our understanding of immunity in cirrhosis by addressing specific themes and fostering collaboration and advancements in the field, ultimately improving outcomes for cirrhotic patients. We welcome original research articles, reviews, mini-reviews, systematic reviews, case reports, perspectives, short communications, and methods elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying CAID, exploring therapeutic targets, and proposing novel interventions are welcomed. This article collection will cover topics such as:
- the role of dysbiosis in cirrhosis-induced gut barrier dysfunction and its impact on the gut-liver-brain axis
- the reversibility of immune alterations and the proposal of biomarkers for clinical applications
- the diverse methodologies, including experimental, clinical, and translational studies that provide a comprehensive view of immunity in cirrhosis
The Research Topic aims to address the intricate interplay between liver disease and immune dysfunction. With CAID being a critical factor in cirrhosis complications, understanding and mitigating its impact are imperative. Exploring the reversible nature of immune alterations, especially in ACLF, could guide therapeutic interventions. Investigating the gut-liver-brain axis disruptions due to dysbiosis presents an opportunity to target disease progression. Studying the low-grade and high-grade systemic inflammatory phenotypes provides insights into immune responses at different cirrhosis stages. Efforts should focus on identifying biomarkers indicative of immune dysfunction, paving the way for precision medicine in cirrhotic patients.
This Research Topic aims to contribute to our understanding of immunity in cirrhosis by addressing specific themes and fostering collaboration and advancements in the field, ultimately improving outcomes for cirrhotic patients. We welcome original research articles, reviews, mini-reviews, systematic reviews, case reports, perspectives, short communications, and methods elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying CAID, exploring therapeutic targets, and proposing novel interventions are welcomed. This article collection will cover topics such as:
- the role of dysbiosis in cirrhosis-induced gut barrier dysfunction and its impact on the gut-liver-brain axis
- the reversibility of immune alterations and the proposal of biomarkers for clinical applications
- the diverse methodologies, including experimental, clinical, and translational studies that provide a comprehensive view of immunity in cirrhosis
Keywords: cirrhosis, cirrhosis-associated immune dysfunction, bacterial infections, dysbiosis, gut microbiota, gut-liver axis, acute-on-chronic liver failure
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.
