Autoimmune diseases are conditions arising from the abnormal immune responses against normal self-tissues, organs, or cells. The incidence and prevalence of autoimmune diseases have markedly increased over the second half of the 20th century and has become a major health problem. In autoimmune diseases, cell destruction is elicited by activated T cells, B cells, and other immune cells that are inappropriately directed to and respond to self-antigens, leading to loss of tissue function. Autoimmune diseases are usually chronic and can be life-threating. Recent advances have greatly increased our understanding of the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, and it is widely accepted that environment, genes, and immunity contribute to the development of these diseases. These advances may therefore aid in the development of effective immunotherapeutic strategies.

This special issue invites authors to submit original research and review articles that seek to explore the immunopathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Submissions that explore potential treatment/targets or develop novel strategies for the treatment of these diseases are welcomed. Individual case reports and clinical trials in this field are also welcomed.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Identifying novel immunopathogenetic mechanisms of autoimmune diseases
• Identifying potential targets for the treatment of autoimmune diseases
• Identifying potential biomarkers correlated with autoimmune disease severity or treatment efficacy
• Development of novel immunotherapeutic strategies for autoimmune diseases
• Clinical and preclinical evaluation of novel immunotherapies in the treatment of autoimmune diseases