Immune Mechanisms of Rheumatology – IIDB (80)

Topics

• Immunological processes related to organ specific and systemic autoimmune diseases related to autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Specific diseases of interest include rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren’s syndrome, and systemic sclerosis (scleroderma).
• Genetic, molecular, and cellular mechanisms underlying autoimmune rheumatic diseases.
• Environmental factors, infections, and the microbiome in autoimmune rheumatic diseases.
• Maintenance and breakage of central tolerance, peripheral tolerance, immune homeostasis including inflammation and immune system dysregulation leading to the development of autoimmune rheumatic diseases.
• Strategies for reestablishing a normal immune balance and for promoting the development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

Shared Interests and Overlaps

There are shared interests with Mechanisms of Autoimmunity (MAI). Both study sections review immune mechanisms of autoimmunity. Applications involving rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren’s syndrome, or systemic sclerosis may be reviewed in IIDB (80). Applications involving other autoimmune diseases such type I diabetes, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis and more may be reviewed in MAI.

There are shared interests with Innate Immunity A [IIDA (81)] , Innate Immunity B (IIB), and Adaptive Immunity (AI). Fundamental processes and functions that pertain to immune system regulation and response may be reviewed in IIDA (81), IIB, or AI. The immunopathologic consequences or failures of immunoregulation that lead to non-rheumatic autoimmunity may be reviewed in MAI. The immunopathologic consequences or failures of immunoregulation that lead to rheumatic autoimmunity may be reviewed in IIDB (80).

There are shared interests with Lung Immunology and Infection (LII). Applications focused on the immunological response to pathogen invasion in the lung may be reviewed in LII, whereas lung complications associated with an autoimmune disease may be reviewed in MAI, while lung complications associated with an autoimmune rheumatic disease may be reviewed in IIDB (80).

There are shared interests with Skin and Connective Tissue Science (SCTS) in skin and connective tissue-associated immune responses. Applications with focus on the pathophysiology of the skin, skin appendages and connective tissue in the context of autoimmune disease may be reviewed in SCTS. Applications studying immune cells, immune mechanisms and/or responses, either innate or adaptive, in the context of skin-associated autoimmunity may be reviewed in MAI while skin complications associated with autoimmune rheumatic diseases may be reviewed in IIDB (80).

There are shared interests with Immunobiology of Transplantation and Alloimmunity (ITA) regarding diseases that affect induction, maintenance and breaking of immune tolerance. Applications proposing to study tolerance mechanisms and autoimmunity in relation to transplantation may be reviewed by ITA. Applications focused on immune tolerance to understand the pathogenesis and prevention of autoimmunity may be reviewed by MAI. Additionally, applications focused on immune tolerance to understand the pathogenesis and prevention of autoimmunity related to rheumatic diseases may be reviewed by IIDB (80).

There are shared interests with Pathobiology of Kidney Disease (PBKD).  Rheumatology applications focused on renal tubular and glomerular cells may be reviewed in PBKD, whereas rheumatology applications focused on the immune system may be reviewed in IIDB (80).

There are shared interests with Skeletal Biology Structure and Regeneration Study Section (SBSR). Rheumatology applications focused on the musculoskeletal system may be reviewed in SBSR, whereas rheumatology applications focused on the immune system may be reviewed in IIDB (80). 

There are shared interests with Translational Investigations of Pulmonary and Immunological Diseases [RCCS (81)]. Translational research that uses study cohorts and clinical trial platforms to examine strategies to prevent and/or ameliorate autoimmune disease may be reviewed in RCCS (81), whereas applications that address immunological mechanisms of failed self-tolerance in the context of autoimmunity that use human and/or animal models as well as in vitro systems, molecular, cellular, genomic and proteomic approaches may be reviewed in MAI. Applications that explore immunological mechanisms of failed self-tolerance in autoimmune rheumatic diseases, utilizing human and/or animal models, in vitro systems, as well as molecular, cellular, genomic, and proteomic approaches, may be reviewed in IIDB (80).