Unlike immune responses in primary and secondary lymphoid organs, such as thymus, bone marrow, spleen, and lymph nodes, tissue-specific immunity, including tissues of skin, liver, lung, adipose tissue, kidney, joint, and gastrointestinal tract, as well as tumors, is poorly investigated. Diversified innate and adaptive immune cells indeed reside in specific tissues, regulating homeostasis and function. Recent studies demonstrate genetic and functional distinctions between tissue-resident immune cells and their counterparts from lymphoid organs. Tissue-specialized immune cells interplay with their local environment, by direct cell-cell interaction or indirectly through cytokines and interleukins. Proper tissue-resident immunity is critical for tissue environment homeostasis, regeneration, and repair, as well as immune surveillance to pathogens. Therefore, better understanding of tissue-specific immunity would extend our knowledge and improve therapeutic strategies in wound healing, autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases, and infectious diseases.

This special issue aims to present recent progress in tissue-specific immunity, including both steady-state and pathological scenarios and their related clinical applications. We encourage authors to submit their original research articles, reviews, and minireviews.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Immune responses in nonlymphoid tissues, including liver, skin, lung, kidney, adipose tissue, joint, gastrointestinal tract, and mucosal barrier
• Tissue-specific immune cells in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis
• Tissue-specific immune cells in infectious and noninfectious diseases
• Tissue-specific immune cells in autoimmune diseases
• Tumor infiltrated immune cells
• Immune control in tissue regeneration and repair after damage
• Treatments targeting tissue-specific immunity