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Immunology

A section of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383).

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The immune system is a host defense system involving numerous biological elements and mechanisms. The immune system must be able to identify a wide variety of pathogenic agents (microorganisms, toxins, etc.), distinguishing them from others, and launch an effective response. Indeed, its goal is to protect from several aggressions, historically considered as infectious diseases, but recent evidence has shown that the immune system is also implicated in antitumor defenses.

The two main parts of the immune system are represented by innate immunity and adaptive immunity. Innate immunity induces a rapid/immediate and nonspecific effective response, but with no development of long-lasting immunity. Adaptive immunity induces a strong response, characterized by antigen-specificity and long-term immune memory. Both innate and adaptive immunity use humoral factors (such as complement protein system, antibodies, cytokines, chemokines, etc.) and cell-mediated mechanisms (involving phagocytes, granulocytes, dendritic cells, innate lymphoid cells such as NK cells, and of course B and T cells, etc.) to perform the immune defenses.

Immune dysfunction is implicated in a large number of clinical conditions, such as: 1) autoimmune diseases (AID): organ-specific AID such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and diabetes mellitus type 1, as well as organ nonspecific AID such as connective tissue disorders (systemic lupus, Sjögren’s syndrome, etc.), and vasculitides; 2) inflammatory diseases including autoinflammatory disorders and granulomatous diseases, 3) immune deficiencies resulting in infections and many other potential manifestations, and 4) hypersensitivity reactions. Additionally, the immune system can represent a target for treatments such as immunosuppressive and/or immunomodulating drugs, resulting in therapeutic advances as well as new clinical adverse events. Notably, immune checkpoint inhibitors have emerged as a revolutionary approach to treat cancers, and the concept of cancer immunosurveillance fully illustrates the potential of the immune system beyond the limits of infectious diseases, but also challenges the field of autoimmunity with novel immune-mediated adverse events. Finally, the implication of the immune system also concerns the field of graft and transplantation, and the risk of rejection and/or immune reactions.

We sincerely welcome your submission to Journal of Clinical Medicine. Our readers look forward to your contribution to the research on the immune system and its related disorders.

Subject Areas

  • Organ-specific autoimmune diseases
  • Organ non-specific autoimmune diseases
  • Connective tissue disorders
  • Vasculitis
  • Granulomatous diseases
  • Auto-inflammatory disorders
  • Inherited diseases of immune system
  • Immune deficiencies (inherited or acquired)
  • Hypersensitivity reactions
  • Antitumor immunity
  • Immune checkpoint inhibitors (mechanisms, adverse effects)
  • Immunosuppressive drugs
  • Immunomodulating drugs
  • Graft and transplantation
  • Adverse drug reactions
  • Immune system physiology
  • Others

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