Molecular Research on Autoimmune Diseases and Rheumatology
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: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 26
Special Issue Editor
Interests: traditional Chinese medicine in allergy; immunology; rheumatology; Sjögren syndrome; systemic lupus erythematosus; systemic sclerosis; autoimmune rheumatic diseases; dry eye syndrome/keratoconjunctivitis; acupuncture & moxibustion
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Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Autoimmune and rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and systemic sclerosis, are chronic, immune-mediated disorders marked by persistent inflammation, autoimmunity, and progressive tissue damage. Despite therapeutic advances, there is still substantial heterogeneity in disease courses and treatment responses, posing ongoing challenges for clinicians and researchers. Moving beyond symptom control toward precision medicine necessitates a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying these conditions.
Despite technological advances, there are still several gaps in this field. Firstly, the biological heterogeneity of rheumatic diseases complicates biomarker discovery and validation. Secondly, most molecular studies are based on peripheral samples, which may not reflect the pathology of affected tissues, such as the synovium, salivary glands, or skin. Thirdly, transforming high-dimensional omics data into actionable clinical insights remains a challenge, requiring the integration of systems biology, machine learning, and clinical expertise.
This Special Issue will highlight cutting-edge molecular research elucidating pathogenesis, biomarkers, and therapeutic targets in rheumatic diseases. We aim to promote mechanistic insights and translational advances that bridge basic immunology, omics technologies, and clinical rheumatology.
Our focus includes the following themes:
- The identification and validation of molecular biomarkers in rheumatologic diseases;
- Cytokine and chemokine signaling pathways in chronic inflammation and autoimmunity;
- Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics in tissue-specific rheumatic pathology;
- The genetic and epigenetic regulation of immune dysregulation in rheumatology;
- The role of exosomes, microRNAs, and long non-coding RNAs in disease progression and treatment response;
- Molecular mechanisms behind fibroblast, macrophage, and T/B-cell dysfunction in rheumatologic tissues;
- Target discovery and the preclinical evaluation of small molecules and biologics;
- The integration of multi-omics data for stratified and personalized medicine in rheumatic disorders.
Call for Submissions
We welcome the submission of manuscripts including original research articles, reviews, mini-reviews, hypothesis and theory papers, brief research reports, general commentaries, clinical trials, study protocols, methods articles, and systematic reviews.
Relevant topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Molecular and cellular immunology in rheumatology;
- The genomic and proteomic profiling of rheumatic tissue or blood samples;
- Mechanistic studies using in vitro or animal models of autoimmune rheumatic diseases;
- Applications of CRISPR, siRNA, and gene-editing technologies in rheumatology research;
- Molecular imaging techniques in rheumatic disease diagnosis or monitoring;
- The role of oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cell death pathways in rheumatology;
- Translational research linking molecular targets with clinical outcomes;
- The development and validation of molecular diagnostic tools and companion diagnostics;
- Spatial omics and single-cell multi-modal profiling of disease-relevant tissues;
- Host–microbiome–immunity interactions and their contribution to autoimmunity;
- Applications of AI/ML for molecular-based flare prediction and treatment stratification;
- Immunometabolic rewiring and its role in disease persistence;
- Epigenetic memory and therapeutic reprogramming in pathogenic immune cells;
- Extracellular vesicles (exosomes) as mediators and biomarkers of disease activity.
By showcasing cutting-edge articles in this Special Issue, we aim to accelerate interdisciplinary and translational research to inform the development of precise diagnostics and targeted interventions in rheumatic diseases.
Dr. Ching-Mao Chang
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.
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Keywords
- rheumatology
- molecular immunology
- autoimmune diseases
- biomarkers
- transcriptomics
- proteomics
- epigenetics
- single-cell analysis
- cytokine signaling
- precision medicine
- exosomes
- microRNA
- immune metabolism
- fibroblast activation
- translational research
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