Unconventional T Cells in Health and Disease
A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409). This special issue belongs to the section "Cellular Immunology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2025 | Viewed by 112
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Cutting-edge research over the past 30 years has uncovered a diverse array of unconventional T cells that do not fit neatly into the well-established conventional T cell categories. These include γδ T cells, CD1-restricted T cells, and MR1-restricted T cells, all of which are capable of recognizing non-peptide antigens. These cells sit at the interface of innate and adaptive immunity, allowing them to respond rapidly to a wide range of pathogens, stress signals, tissue damage, and inflammation.
Despite their growing significance, unconventional T cell biology is often considered a niche area of research and is typically divided based on the specific cell type of interest (e.g., MAIT cells, NKT cells, and γδ T cells). However, collectively, this field is transforming our understanding of host immunity. Unconventional T cells are implicated in a wide range of conditions, from infections and autoimmune diseases to cancer and metabolic disorders. However, key aspects of their function, antigen specificity, and therapeutic potential remain elusive.
This Special Issue will bring together the diverse branches of unconventional T cell research to showcase the power and promise of these unique immune cells in improving human immune health. We invite the submission of original research that advances our understanding of any unconventional T cell subset, including their mechanistic roles in health and disease, as well as their potential as novel therapeutic targets. We also welcome reviews that summarize the current state and future directions of unconventional T cell research.
Dr. Lauren Howson
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- MR1-restricted T cells
- γδ T cells
- CD1-restricted T cells
- unconventional T cells
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