RNA-Based Immunotherapy

Dear Colleagues,

RNA-based immunotherapy is an emerging modality that utilizes RNA molecules to modulate immune responses in the treatment of cancer, infectious diseases, and autoimmune conditions. The most prominent form involves messenger RNA (mRNA) encoding tumor-associated or pathogen-derived antigens, which, upon delivery into host cells—typically via lipid nanoparticles—are translated into proteins that prime and activate antigen-specific T cells. This induces a robust adaptive immune response without the risk of genomic integration that is inherent to DNA-based approaches. Besides antigens, artificial mRNA can encode functional proteins to enhance or redirect immunity. This mRNA can be transfected ex vivo, usually via electroporation, or in situ, using similar approaches to those used for antigen-encoding mRNAs. This allows the specific manipulation of the immune system to better target diseases.

Additionally, small interfering RNA (siRNA) and microRNA (miRNA) are employed to silence immunosuppressive genes or reprogram the tumor microenvironment, enhancing immune cell infiltration and function. RNA-based platforms are advantageous due to their rapid manufacturability, ease of sequence modification, and ability to elicit both humoral and cellular immune responses.

Recent clinical successes, particularly with mRNA vaccines in oncology and infectious disease, have underscored the therapeutic potential of RNA immunotherapies. However, key challenges remain, including efficient in vivo delivery, targeted biodistribution, immunogenicity control, and the durability of responses. Ongoing research aims to refine delivery vectors and optimize RNA stability and translation efficiency to maximize the therapeutic benefits.

This Special Issue will focus on improvements and new strategies in RNA-based immunotherapies.

Immuno is an international peer-reviewed scientific open access journal that provides an advanced forum for studies related to basic and clinical immunology research and is published online quarterly by MDPI.   Authors are cordially invited to contribute original research papers or reviews to this Special Issue of Immuno.

Prof. Dr. Niels Schaft
Dr. Jan Dörrie
Guest Editors

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-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Immuno is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.