ijms-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

25th Anniversary of IJMS: Updates and Advances in “Molecular Immunology”

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Immunology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 December 2025 | Viewed by 558

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Transfusion Medicine and Immunology, Mannheim Institute for Innate Immunoscience (MI3), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
Interests: transcriptional, epigenetic, and metabolic programming of macrophages and their precoursors—corculating monocytes; tumor immunometabolism; macrophage biomarkers of therapy resistance; new molecular targets for TAM reprogramming in solid tumors
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The global environment presents new challenges to the immune system, including exposure to the unusual pathogens and significant lifestyle changes, such as an unhealthy diet, low physical activity and increased chronic stress. Under these conditions, the immune system may be unable to combat both exogenous pathogens and endogenous dangers, including metabolic factors and transformed cells. However, our growing knowledge of the molecular mechanisms and different immune cell types and subpopulations that control both innate and adaptive immunity has led to the development of efficient immunotherapeutic molecular and cellular therapies, such as CAR T cells and immune checkpoint inhibitors, which have been translated into clinical practice. At the same time, the application of these tools and their subsequent failure in a number of clinical trials have exposed new levels of complexity in the molecular interactions that control the interaction of immune cells with other cell types in tissues and in the circulation.

Our Special Issue focuses on the identification of key molecular levels and mechanisms at which targets for the therapeutic immunity manipulation can be identified. These levels and mechanisms include the genetic, epigenetic, signaling, protein network; metabolic pathways; and membrane biogenesis levels. The Issue also identifies the bottlenecks where these levels merge and interact. 

We hereby extend an invitation for the submission of research pertaining to the molecular mechanisms that define healthy and pathological functions of immunity. We welcome submissions that address these mechanisms at the fundamental, translational and clinical levels. Our research is particularly focused on the molecular and cellular mechanisms of immunity in cancer, cardiometabolic and autoimmune disorders, neurodegeneration, regenerative medicine and reproductive biology. While these fields represent a primary area of interest, our research is not limited to these areas.

Prof. Dr. Julia Kzhyshkowska
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • inflammation
  • innate immunity
  • adaptive immunity
  • genetics
  • epigenetics
  • immunometabolism
  • receptors
  • cytokines
  • cell therapy
  • immune checkpoint inhibitors

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

18 pages, 4937 KB  
Article
An Innovative Immunotoxin Design Against Allergy Based on the IL-33 Cytokine and the Ribotoxin α-Sarcin
by Javier Narbona, Rodrigo Lázaro-Gorines, Adrián Gutiérrez-Carmona, Juan Carlos López-Rodríguez, Mayte Villalba and Javier Lacadena
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(19), 9827; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26199827 - 9 Oct 2025
Viewed by 136
Abstract
Allergies constitute one of the major health problems worldwide, increasing their prevalence in developed countries. To overcome this multifactorial disease, immunotherapy and the use of immune molecules, such as immunotoxins, have arisen as promising therapeutic tools. We have designed, produced, and characterized a [...] Read more.
Allergies constitute one of the major health problems worldwide, increasing their prevalence in developed countries. To overcome this multifactorial disease, immunotherapy and the use of immune molecules, such as immunotoxins, have arisen as promising therapeutic tools. We have designed, produced, and characterized a new immunotoxin called IL-33αS, encompassing the murine IL-33 (mIL-33) as the target domain and the ribotoxin α-sarcin as the toxic domain. IL-33 is a widely described alarmin that binds to the ST2 receptor of a variety of immune cells, including ILC2s, leading to Th2-derived inflammatory response, as occurs in allergic reactions. Both IL-33αS and mIL-33 were successfully produced in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris and purified to homogeneity through affinity chromatography for their characterization. Both IL-33αS and mIL-33 were able to specifically bind to ST2+ Raw 264.7 cells, and IL-33αS kept the ribonucleolytic activity of α-sarcin, allowing IL-33αS to exhibit cytotoxic effects against ST2+-targeted cells. In addition, IL-33αS induced significantly less secretion of the Th2-linked cytokine IL-13 in comparison to mIL-33, suggesting steric interference produced by the presence of the α-sarcin. These results assess the potential therapeutic effect of this new immunotoxin against allergies, causing ST2-targeted cytotoxicity while avoiding the Th2 cytokine secretion. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

15 pages, 1079 KB  
Review
P2Y2 Receptor Signaling in Health and Disease
by Fatemeh Salarpour and Jean Sévigny
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(19), 9815; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26199815 - 9 Oct 2025
Viewed by 223
Abstract
P2Y2 receptors are a subclass of G protein-coupled receptors activated by the extracellular nucleotides ATP and UTP. These receptors are widely expressed in multiple tissues—including the brain, lungs, heart, and kidneys—and play pivotal roles in inflammation, wound healing, and cell migration. Through [...] Read more.
P2Y2 receptors are a subclass of G protein-coupled receptors activated by the extracellular nucleotides ATP and UTP. These receptors are widely expressed in multiple tissues—including the brain, lungs, heart, and kidneys—and play pivotal roles in inflammation, wound healing, and cell migration. Through coupling with various G proteins, P2Y2 receptors initiate diverse intracellular signaling pathways that mediate calcium mobilization, cytokine release, and cytoskeletal reorganization. Recent studies highlight their dual roles in health and disease. In physiological contexts, P2Y2 receptors contribute to immune modulation and tissue repair. In pathological conditions, they are implicated in Alzheimer’s disease by promoting non-amyloidogenic processing of amyloid precursor protein and in dry eye disease by enhancing mucin secretion while modulating ocular inflammation. They also influence chloride secretion and mucosal hydration in cystic fibrosis and contribute to inflammatory regulation and epithelial repair in inflammatory bowel disease. Additionally, P2Y2 receptors modulate breast cancer progression by regulating cell adhesion, migration, and matrix remodeling. Their involvement in blood pressure regulation via epithelial sodium channel modulation and their facilitative role in HIV-1 entry further underscore their clinical significance. These multifaceted functions position P2Y2 receptors as promising therapeutic targets for diverse diseases, warranting further investigation for translational applications. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop