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Role of Immune and Inflammatory Cells in Pulmonary Diseases

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 December 2025) | Viewed by 1219

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Laboratory of Pulmonary Immunology and Mechanics, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil
Interests: pulmonary immunology; immunopharmacology of pulmonary diseases; pulmonary inflammation; pulmonary fibrosis; idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF); fibrosis resolution and repair in lung diseases
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF), particularly idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), is a progressive and fatal lung disease characterized by excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, which leads to scarring and impaired lung function. Immune and inflammatory cells play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of PF, driving both injury and repair processes. Over the last five years, significant progress has been made in understanding the role of immune and inflammatory cells in pulmonary fibrosis. Recent advancements in pulmonary immunology and precision medicine, including single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), spatial transcriptomics, immune cell engineering, and cell therapy, have greatly enhanced our understanding of the disease in both humans (IPF) and animal models of pulmonary fibrosis, thereby opening up new avenues for treatment. These advances in immunology have provided unprecedented insights into disease mechanisms and led to the identification of novel therapeutic targets. We welcome research and review articles that address, but are not limited to, the following topics:

  • Immune and Inflammatory Cells in Pulmonary Fibrosis: Macrophages, T cells, neutrophils, eosinophils, fibroblasts, and myofibroblasts;
  • Immunology of Lung Mucosa in Pulmonary Fibrosis: Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), tissue-resident memory T cells (TRMs), and alveolar epithelial cells (AECs);
  • Cellular Therapy Using Immune Cells in Pulmonary Fibrosis: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), regulatory T cells (Tregs), and macrophage reprogramming;
  • Precision Medicine in Pulmonary Fibrosis: Integration of scRNA-seq and spatial transcriptomic data;
  • Cellular Engineering in Pulmonary Fibrosis: Engineered immune cells, such as CAR-T cells targeting fibrotic pathways.

Dr. Remo C. Russo
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)
  • pulmonary immunology
  • precision medicine
  • single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq)
  • spatial transcriptomics sequencing
  • animal model of pulmonary fibrosis

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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16 pages, 468 KB  
Case Report
Post-Infectious Bronchiolitis Obliterans as a Model of Immune-Mediated Airway Fibrosis: A Pediatric Case Report
by Rosamaria Terracciano, Martina Mazzoni, Alessandro Rossi, Fabio Antonelli, Pierluigi Vuilleumier, Daniela Melis and Annalisa Allegorico
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(4), 1804; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27041804 - 13 Feb 2026
Viewed by 869
Abstract
Post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans (PIBO) is a rare but severe chronic lung disease of childhood, characterized by irreversible small-airway obstruction following severe lower respiratory tract infections early in life. The disease course is often progressive and associated with long-term respiratory morbidity, while effective disease-modifying [...] Read more.
Post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans (PIBO) is a rare but severe chronic lung disease of childhood, characterized by irreversible small-airway obstruction following severe lower respiratory tract infections early in life. The disease course is often progressive and associated with long-term respiratory morbidity, while effective disease-modifying therapies remain limited. We report the case of a young child who developed severe PIBO following adenovirus pneumonia complicated by prolonged respiratory failure and multisystem involvement. Diagnosis was based on persistent respiratory symptoms, characteristic radiologic findings, and poor response to conventional anti-inflammatory treatment. Given the severity of the clinical course and steroid-refractory disease, an individualized immunomodulatory strategy, including hydroxychloroquine, was initiated within a multidisciplinary framework. During follow-up, the patient showed progressive clinical improvement, with gradual weaning from continuous oxygen supplementation, fewer respiratory exacerbations, simplification of systemic therapies, and radiologic findings consistent with partial improvement. Although causal conclusions regarding treatment efficacy cannot be drawn from a single case, the overall disease trajectory appeared more favorable than typically reported in PIBO cohorts. This case supports the emerging view of PIBO as an immune-mediated airway fibrotic disorder and underscores the importance of integrating detailed clinical phenotyping with evolving molecular insights to inform future precision medicine in pediatric post-infectious airway disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Immune and Inflammatory Cells in Pulmonary Diseases)
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