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:
- Clinical Updates on Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (Deadline: 30 June 2024)
- Emerging Approaches to Cancer Immunotherapy (Deadline: 30 June 2024)
- Clinical Diagnosis, Treatment and Comorbidities of Ankylosing Spondylitis and Spondyloarthritis (Deadline: 10 July 2024)
- Therapeutic Advancements in Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (Deadline: 25 July 2024)
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Treatment (Deadline: 30 July 2024)
- Immune Dysregulation in Inborn Errors of Immunity: From Allergy to Autoimmunity and Lymphoproliferation (Deadline: 31 July 2024)
- Clinical Advances in Anaphylaxis and Mast Cell Disorders (Deadline: 31 July 2024)
- Research Progress of Rheumatic Immune Diseases (Deadline: 10 August 2024)
- Clinical Updates on Rheumatoid Arthritis (Deadline: 15 August 2024)
- New Insights in Lung Involvement Secondary to Autoimmune Diseases (Deadline: 20 August 2024)
- Clinical Updates in Allergic Rhinitis, Asthma and Other Respiratory Allergies (Deadline: 30 August 2024)
- Autoimmune Diseases and Cardiovascular System: Physiopathology, Epidemiology, Clinical Characteristics and Therapeutic Strategies (Deadline: 31 August 2024)
- Clinical Management of Psoriatic Arthritis: Future Perspectives (Deadline: 31 August 2024)
- Advances in Clinical Rheumatology (Deadline: 8 September 2024)
- Vasculitis: Current Treatment and Future Options (Deadline: 15 September 2024)
- Diagnosis and Treatment of Connective Tissue Diseases: A Clinician's Perspective (Deadline: 19 September 2024)
- Advances in Allergic Diseases and Asthma: Clinical Insights and Emerging Therapies (Deadline: 20 September 2024)
- Mastocytosis: Advancements in Diagnosing and Treatment (Deadline: 20 September 2024)
- Rheumatoid Arthritis: Current Status and Future Challenges (Deadline: 24 September 2024)
- Novel Strategies for Diagnosis and Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases (Deadline: 25 September 2024)
- Sjogren's Syndrome: Complications and Treatment (Deadline: 30 September 2024)
- Allergic and Eosinophilic Diseases: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management (Deadline: 20 October 2024)
- 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)
- Updates on Antiphospholipid Syndrome (Deadline: 20 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)
- 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)
- Clinical Insights into Immune Cell Markers in Cancer (Deadline: 30 January 2025)
- Targeted Treatment in Chronic Inflammatory Arthritis (Deadline: 28 February 2025)
- Autoimmunity—Affecting Different Organ Systems (from Guts to Brain) (Deadline: 28 February 2025)
Topical Collection
Following topical collection within this section is currently open for submissions: