Immunology
A section of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383).
Section Information
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
Editorial Board
Topical Advisory Panel
Special Issues
Following special issues within this section are currently open for submissions:
- Progress in Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary Immunodeficiencies (Deadline: 10 November 2024)
- Latest Advances in Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis (Deadline: 15 November 2024)
- Clinical Updates in Allergic Rhinitis, Asthma and Other Respiratory Allergies (Deadline: 15 November 2024)
- Rheumatoid Arthritis: Challenges, Innovations and Outcomes (Deadline: 20 November 2024)
- Psoriatic Arthritis—New Insights, Challenges, Unmet Needs and Controversies (Deadline: 22 November 2024)
- Allergic Diseases across the Lifespan: From Infancy to Old Age (Deadline: 30 November 2024)
- Systemic Autoinflammatory Diseases—Clinical Rheumatic Challenges Series 3 (Deadline: 30 November 2024)
- Updates on Antiphospholipid Syndrome (Deadline: 25 December 2024)
- Diagnoses and Treatments of Juvenile and Rheumatoid Arthritis (Deadline: 31 December 2024)
- Advances in Rheumatology: From Bench to Bedside (Deadline: 15 January 2025)
- Rheumatoid Arthritis: Clinical Updates on Diagnosis and Treatment (Deadline: 24 January 2025)
- Therapeutic Advancements in Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (Deadline: 25 January 2025)
- Immune Dysregulation in Inborn Errors of Immunity: From Allergy to Autoimmunity and Lymphoproliferation (Deadline: 31 January 2025)
- The Future of Inflammatory Biomarkers: Challenges and Clinical Integration (Deadline: 31 January 2025)
- Updates on Rheumatoid Arthritis: From Diagnosis to Treatment (Deadline: 25 February 2025)
- Autoimmune Diseases and Cardiovascular System: Physiopathology, Epidemiology, Clinical Characteristics and Therapeutic Strategies (Deadline: 28 February 2025)
- Clinical Insights into Immune Cell Markers in Cancer (Deadline: 28 February 2025)
- Targeted Treatment in Chronic Inflammatory Arthritis (Deadline: 28 February 2025)
- Diagnosis and Treatment of Connective Tissue Diseases: A Clinician's Perspective (Deadline: 28 February 2025)
- Autoimmunity—Affecting Different Organ Systems (from Guts to Brain) (Deadline: 28 February 2025)
- Advances in Clinical Rheumatology (Deadline: 7 March 2025)
- Mastocytosis: Advancements in Diagnosing and Treatment (Deadline: 20 March 2025)
- Antiphospholipid Syndrome: Clinical Advances in Diagnosis and Management (Deadline: 20 March 2025)
- Inborn Errors of Immunity: Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment (Deadline: 25 March 2025)
- Clinical Role of Neuroinflammation in Disease (Deadline: 10 April 2025)
- Advances in Allergic Diseases and Asthma: Clinical Insights and Emerging Therapies (Deadline: 20 April 2025)
- Clinical Management of Multiple Sclerosis (Deadline: 30 April 2025)
- Clinical Advances in Anaphylaxis and Mast Cell Disorders (Deadline: 30 April 2025)
- News in the Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Treatment of Systemic Sclerosis (Deadline: 8 May 2025)
- Arthritis: From Diagnosis to Treatment (Deadline: 25 May 2025)
- Clinical Updates on Rheumatoid Arthritis: 2nd Edition (Deadline: 31 May 2025)
- Clinical Treatment and Management of Rheumatic Diseases, Autoinflammatory Diseases, and Autoimmune Disorders (Deadline: 24 June 2025)
- Diagnosis and Treatment of Rheumatic Disease (Deadline: 30 June 2025)
- Current and Emerging Therapies for Rheumatoid Arthritis (Deadline: 10 July 2025)
Topical Collection
Following topical collection within this section is currently open for submissions: