Immune Defense Mechanisms of the External, Middle, and Inner Ear
This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Immunology".
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
While immune responses are essential for protecting the ear from infection and injury, excessive or dysregulated immune activation may lead to pathological conditions. One example is autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED), in which abnormal immune responses target inner ear structures. This condition may result in sensorineural hearing loss and vestibular symptoms such as dizziness or imbalance. In such cases, immunosuppressive therapies, particularly corticosteroids, are commonly used to reduce inflammation and preserve auditory function.
Scope of the Special Issue
This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for advancing knowledge in ear immunology. We welcome submissions including review articles, basic research studies, clinical investigations, and case reports addressing immune mechanisms of the ear, immune-mediated ear diseases, and emerging therapeutic strategies. Contributions from multidisciplinary perspectives are encouraged to further elucidate the complex interactions between the immune system and auditory function.
Researchers and clinicians working in the fields of otolaryngology, immunology, neuroscience, and related disciplines are warmly invited to submit their work.
Prof. Dr. Chul Ho Jang
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
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Keywords
- ear immunology
- mucosal immunity
- autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED)
- innate immune response
- blood–labyrinth barrier
- middle ear immune defense
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