The activity of the immune system in autoimmune diseases, chronic inflammatory disorders, allergy and transplantation needs to be modulated towards the clinical benefit of affected patients. Irrespective of whether the immune system is reactive against ‘’self’’, i.e. host cells and tissues, or against innocuous agents, tolerogenic dendritic cells (tolDCs) and regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential for the prevention and suppression of triggered immune responses. It has been proposed that the inefficiency of these cell types to modulate immune tolerance is among the major causes for inappropriate immune activity as observed in autoimmunity, chronic inflammatory disorders and allergy. Therefore, the supplementation of patients with tolDCs and Tregs is a promising therapeutic approach.
Numerous clinical trials on the application of tolDCs and Tregs in immune-mediated disorders have been performed. Results of these trials are encouraging and provide impetus for further research in the field. However, additional preclinical studies on tolDCs and Tregs are needed in order to improve our understanding of the underlying mechanisms as well as for improving protocols for their generation, propagation and therapeutic application. Indeed, research on tolDCs and Tregs and their therapeutic application is vivid throughout biomedical community.
In this Research Topic, we welcome the submission of Review, Mini-Review, Original Research, Protocol, Method, Clinical Trial and Perspective articles that address, but are not limited to, the following topics:
1. Investigation of the cause(s) of inefficiency of tolDCs and Tregs in the prevention and/or down-regulation of immune over-reactivity.
2. Novel approaches for generating / propagating tolDCs and Tregs for therapeutic use.
3. Studies on the efficiency of tolDCs and Tregs in animal models of autoimmunity, transplantation, chronic inflammation and allergy.
4. Clinical studies on the safety and efficacy of tolDCs and Tregs in patients.
The activity of the immune system in autoimmune diseases, chronic inflammatory disorders, allergy and transplantation needs to be modulated towards the clinical benefit of affected patients. Irrespective of whether the immune system is reactive against ‘’self’’, i.e. host cells and tissues, or against innocuous agents, tolerogenic dendritic cells (tolDCs) and regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential for the prevention and suppression of triggered immune responses. It has been proposed that the inefficiency of these cell types to modulate immune tolerance is among the major causes for inappropriate immune activity as observed in autoimmunity, chronic inflammatory disorders and allergy. Therefore, the supplementation of patients with tolDCs and Tregs is a promising therapeutic approach.
Numerous clinical trials on the application of tolDCs and Tregs in immune-mediated disorders have been performed. Results of these trials are encouraging and provide impetus for further research in the field. However, additional preclinical studies on tolDCs and Tregs are needed in order to improve our understanding of the underlying mechanisms as well as for improving protocols for their generation, propagation and therapeutic application. Indeed, research on tolDCs and Tregs and their therapeutic application is vivid throughout biomedical community.
In this Research Topic, we welcome the submission of Review, Mini-Review, Original Research, Protocol, Method, Clinical Trial and Perspective articles that address, but are not limited to, the following topics:
1. Investigation of the cause(s) of inefficiency of tolDCs and Tregs in the prevention and/or down-regulation of immune over-reactivity.
2. Novel approaches for generating / propagating tolDCs and Tregs for therapeutic use.
3. Studies on the efficiency of tolDCs and Tregs in animal models of autoimmunity, transplantation, chronic inflammation and allergy.
4. Clinical studies on the safety and efficacy of tolDCs and Tregs in patients.