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Upper and Lower Airway Diseases in Allergy and Immunology: From Bench to Bedside

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: 20 September 2025 | Viewed by 251

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, 20090 Milan, Italy
2. IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Rozzano, Italy
Interests: allergology and clinical immunology; asthma; chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09100 Cagliari, Italy
Interests: allergology and clinical immunology; asthma; chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps; immunology; rheumatology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Italy
2. IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Rozzano, Italy
Interests: allergy; anaphylaxis; drug allergy; asthma; severe asthma; rhinosinusitis with and without nasal polyps; biologicals; precision medicine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on the complex interplay between upper and lower airways in allergic and immunologic diseases. The respiratory tract functions as a unified system, and increasing evidence highlights how inflammation in one part of the airways can influence the other. Conditions such as allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, asthma, and eosinophilic airway disorders often coexist, suggesting shared immunopathological mechanisms. This collection aims to explore recent advances in the understanding of airway inflammation, novel diagnostic approaches, and emerging therapeutic strategies. We invite original research articles, reviews, and clinical studies that investigate the pathophysiology, biomarkers, and treatment of upper and lower airway diseases in the context of allergy and immunology. Contributions discussing the role of the epithelial barrier, immune dysregulation, and the microbiome are especially welcome. This Special Issue offers a valuable platform for clinicians and researchers to share insights and promote an integrated approach to respiratory allergic and immunologic conditions. Please note that pure clinical or model studies are unsuitable for this journal, but clinical submissions with biomolecular studies are welcome.

Dr. Giovanni Paoletti
Dr. Giulia Costanzo
Dr. Enrico Marco Heffler
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • unified airway disease
  • allergic rhinitis
  • asthma
  • chronic rhinosinusitis
  • eosinophilic
  • airway inflammation
  • airway epithelial barrier
  • immune dysregulation
  • respiratory microbiome
  • biomarkers
  • allergy and immunology

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

17 pages, 421 KiB  
Article
Asthma and COPD Beyond the Airways: Exploring Neurocognitive Links Through NF-κB Subunits c-Rel and p65
by Magdalena Figat, Aleksandra Wisniewska, Jacek Plichta, Joanna Milkowska-Dymanowska, Sebastian Majewski, Michal S. Karbownik, Piotr Kuna and Michal G. Panek
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(11), 5217; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26115217 - 29 May 2025
Viewed by 123
Abstract
The evolving understanding of asthma and COPD pathomechanisms led to this study examining chronic obstructive lung diseases’ impact on cognitive decline—a growing concern in aging populations. We explored whether subunits of key inflammatory regulators NF-κB, c-Rel (neuroprotective), and p65 (neurodegenerative), are linked to [...] Read more.
The evolving understanding of asthma and COPD pathomechanisms led to this study examining chronic obstructive lung diseases’ impact on cognitive decline—a growing concern in aging populations. We explored whether subunits of key inflammatory regulators NF-κB, c-Rel (neuroprotective), and p65 (neurodegenerative), are linked to cognitive impairment. A pilot study with an explorative design across three groups (asthma, COPD, and control) included 78 patients. Participants underwent assessments via 16 questionnaires (covering demographics, quality of life, disease control, and cognitive and psychiatric evaluations), spirometry, and blood sampling to measure c-Rel and p65 mRNA expression. While both c-Rel and p65 are NF-κB subunits, their expression levels differ independently. Median c-Rel expression was highest, and p65 lowest, in the group with the best cognitive function (control). The most notable correlations for both markers with PKA, CREB, MMSE, and HAM-D were in COPD. The significant association between p65 and the Clock-Drawing Test, without a corresponding link to MMSE, may indicate that a future correlation between p65 and cognitive decline, as assessed by CDT, is likely to emerge. Full article
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