Immunological Mechanisms and Diagnostic Advances in Interstitial Lung Diseases and Systemic Inflammatory Disorders

Dear Colleagues,

Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) and systemic inflammatory disorders (SIDs) represent a diverse group of conditions characterized by immune dysregulation, chronic inflammation, and variable clinical outcomes. Over the past decades, increasing evidence has linked the pathogenesis of ILDs—such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and connective tissue disease-associated ILDs (CTD-ILDs)—to both innate and adaptive immune mechanisms. Similarly, systemic inflammatory disorders like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and vasculitides have been extensively studied for their aberrant immune responses and potential overlap with pulmonary involvement. Understanding the immunopathology of these diseases has significantly evolved with the advent of advanced molecular tools, enabling a deeper exploration into cellular, cytokine, and signaling pathway alterations. Historically, the diagnosis of these conditions was limited to clinical evaluation and histopathology; however, the past two decades have seen major strides in the identification of disease-specific biomarkers, autoantibodies, and imaging techniques, improving both classification and prognostication.

This Special Issue aims to present a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the immunological underpinnings and diagnostic advancements in ILDs and SIDs. By integrating perspectives from pulmonology, rheumatology, immunology, and translational medicine, the Special Issue seeks to explore how immune mechanisms contribute to disease onset, progression, and heterogeneity. The Special Issue will also emphasize the development and clinical validation of novel diagnostic tools, such as next-generation sequencing, multiplex immunoassays, and artificial intelligence-supported imaging, which are poised to transform diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic targeting in these complex diseases.

Recent years have brought remarkable progress in understanding the immunological landscape of ILDs and SIDs, including the identification of pathogenic T and B cell subsets, role of cytokine networks like IL-6, TNF-α, and interferons, and the involvement of immune checkpoints in disease modulation. Advances in single-cell transcriptomics, proteomics, and tissue immunophenotyping have offered new insights into disease mechanisms and therapeutic targets. Similarly, diagnostic innovation is expanding, with biomarkers such as KL-6, SP-D, and autoantibody panels, alongside high-resolution CT and PET imaging, playing a growing role in early detection and risk stratification.

We invite original research articles and comprehensive reviews that address any of the following themes:

• Immunological pathways involved in ILDs and/or SIDs;
• Cross-talk between systemic inflammation and pulmonary fibrosis;
• Identification and validation of novel biomarkers or autoantibodies;
• Translational studies integrating molecular immunology with clinical outcomes;
• Diagnostic innovations, including imaging, machine learning, and multi-omics platforms;
• Clinical trials or observational studies focused on immunomodulatory therapies;
• Reports on rare or complex cases highlighting diagnostic or immunological challenges.

Submissions from interdisciplinary teams and those that bridge basic science with clinical application are especially encouraged.

Dr. Adrian Bekier
Guest Editor

Dr. Kacper Packi
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Medicina is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2200 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.

• interstitial lung disease
• systemic inflammatory disorders
• immune dysregulation