In recent decades, considerable progress has been made in the understanding of genetic and immunological factors that contribute to the development and/or treatment of airway disorders. The use of molecular and cellular assays together with knockout animals has contributed significantly to this evolution. Despite this, the current therapy for the treatment of airway disorders has not changed to the same degree and is still far from ideal.

In an attempt to respond to this need, one of the areas that have been highlighted most recently is immunology. Knowledge of the participation of the innate and adaptive immune response in the pathophysiological process of infectious and noninfectious airway injuries is rapidly expanding and the advances in the fields of biomedicine and biotechnology have been decisive to this expansion. The innate and adaptive immune system, as well as structural cells, modulate the quantity and quality of airway inflammatory response. Aberrant immune responses, including those induced for allergens, environmental pollutants, infectious agents, acids, and others, promote excessive leukocyte recruitment, production of proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and other immunomodulatory mediators which are critical to the initiation and maintenance of airway disorders. So, we take a particular interest in manuscripts on the relevance of structural cells, innate and adaptive host responses on modulation/induction, repair, or therapy in the airways. Reviews and original papers that demonstrate the results of clinical, preclinical, or experimental studies of cytokines, antibodies, peptides, RNA interference (RNAi), substances from plants, or other origins that modify immune response for therapeutic purposes are also welcome. In addition, once nanotechnology has a profound impact on many scientific fields and an exponential growth, the impact of colloidal drug delivery systems as carriers for bioactive agents (active substances) in the airways will be interesting. Moreover, papers dealing with detection methods of innate immune parameters in the airways as well as the demonstration of new models to analyze airway disorders would be also interesting.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• The role of innate and adaptive immune system and structural cells in airway disorders
• The role of cytokines, chemokines, and lipid mediators in airway disorders
• Infectious lung diseases
• Modulation of airway inflammation
• Preclinical and clinical studies of acute and chronic lung inflammation
• Preclinical and clinical assays evaluating compounds or mediators with the potential to be used in the treatment of airway disorders
• Identification of natural or synthetic bioactive molecules with potential to be used in the treatment of airway disorders