Autoimmune Polyendocrinopathies: Genetics, Pathogenesis, and Therapies

Call for Papers

Autoimmune endocrine diseases are a heterogeneous group of disorders, and epidemiological studies demonstrate that their incidence is increasing worldwide. A complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors underlies their etiopathogenesis. It is certainly recognised that the pathogenesis of these disorders, their diagnosis, and therapy constitute a ‘hot topic’ and one of the most intriguing subjects in medicine. Endocrine autoimmune conditions frequently occur together in the same individual and cluster in the same family. Among these, autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy syndrome (APECED) is an inherited rare autosomal recessive disorder, characterised by various endocrine deficiencies caused by mutations in the AIRE (Autoimmune Regulator) gene. Different associations of autoimmune and immunodeficiency conditions, namely, APECED-like patients are also currently investigated.

Recent advances have generated new knowledge on the pathogenesis, discovered new tools to characterise and diagnose these conditions, and developed novel therapeutic approaches.

We invite investigators to contribute with research papers and review papers that highlight the most recent advances on autoimmune polyendocrinopathies. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• New knowledge on the pathogenesis of autoimmune polyendocrinopathies
• Insights from epidemiological investigations
• Recent advances on APECED
• Novel diagnostic approaches to APECED-like conditions
• Advances in genetics
• Identification of new antigenic targets
• Identifying new biomarkers
• Latest technologies for clinical evaluation and measuring outcomes
• Development of new immunotherapeutic strategies

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal’s Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ad/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/submit/journals/ad/polyendo/ according to the following timetable:

Lead Guest Editor

• Alessandra Fierabracci, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS Research Institute, Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy

Guest Editors

• Ivica Lazúrová, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pavol Jozef Šafárik in Košice, Trieda SNP 1, 040 11 Košice, Slovakia
• Saul Oswaldo Lugo Reyes, Immunodeficiency Research Unit, National Institute of Paediatrics, Coyoacan, Mexico City, DF, Mexico
• Emmanuelle Proust-Lemoine, Department of Endocrinology, Hôpital Claude-Huriez, CHRU de Lille, Lille, France