About this Research Topic

Background

Environmental triggers such as exposure to air pollution, occupational determinants, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, and dietary habits often have pro-inflammatory effects. These factors are therefore involved in the pathogenesis or exacerbation of autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases through epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, histone modification, or changes in microRNA expression. By their intrinsic function, these mechanisms alter cellular functionality in response to environmental stimuli. In specific contexts of hypersusceptibility, these environmental factors can initiate autoimmune symptoms through the activation of autoinflammatory processes.

The aim of this collection is to highlight the emerging environmental triggers, or even the cumulative effect of multiple triggers, that through epigenetic modifications are implicated in autoimmune pathogenesis, with a focus on the underlying molecular mechanisms linking these factors and on the clinical implication on patients with systemic autoimmune disease.

We invite submissions of various types, including the following:
1. Review Articles: These should provide a comprehensive summary of the current state of research in the field, highlighting existing gaps and outlining future research directions. Reviews should offer an integrated view of the current knowledge and suggest how future investigations should proceed.

2. Original Research Articles: Contributions that provide new evidence—whether epidemiological, observational, or mechanistic/functional—are also of significant interest. These articles should present novel findings that advance understanding in the field and introduce new perspectives or approaches.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Conceptual Analysis
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Conceptual Analysis
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Environmental exposure; epigenetics; autoimmune diseases; inflammation

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.

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