NFAT Transcription Factors in Immunity and Disease: A Themed Collection in Honor of Prof. Edgar Serfling

Dear Colleagues,

Nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) transcription factors are central regulators of immune cell activation, differentiation, and tolerance, orchestrating gene expression programs that shape both innate and adaptive immune responses. Since their discovery, NFAT proteins have emerged as key mediators of T-cell receptor signaling and have also been shown to play critical roles in B cells, dendritic cells, macrophages, natural killer cells, and numerous non-immune tissues.

This Special Issue pays tribute to Professor Edgar Serfling, who has made critical contributions to our understanding of NFAT transcription factors and their role in immune regulation. Over several decades, Prof. Serfling has made groundbreaking discoveries in elucidating the molecular mechanisms controlling NFAT activation regulation, and cooperation with other transcription factors in T and B cell development, activation, differentiation, and tolerance.  His work has also provided fundamental insights into the regulation of cytokine gene expression and the broader transcriptional networks that govern adaptive immune responses, establishing a foundation for modern NFAT biology.

Beyond its fundamental role in immune cell biology, NFAT also represents a clinically validated therapeutic target in transplantation. Calcineurin inhibitors, including cyclosporine and tacrolimus, exert their immunosuppressive effects by preventing NFAT activation, thereby suppressing T-cell activation and allograft rejection. Continued efforts to develop more selective NFAT-targeted therapies are expected to improve transplant outcomes while minimizing the adverse effects associated with current immunosuppressive regimens.

We welcome original research articles, reviews, and perspectives addressing the molecular mechanisms governing NFAT activation and function, its crosstalk with other signaling pathways and transcription factors, and its roles in infection, inflammation, autoimmunity, allergy, transplantation, cancer, and metabolic disorders. Studies exploring epigenetic regulation, single-cell and multi-omics approaches, and the development of NFAT-targeted therapeutic strategies are particularly encouraged.

Dr. Khalid Muhammad
Guest Editor

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