The intricate interplay among a variety of immunocompetent cells leads to the development of a proinflammatory cascade, eventually causing autoimmune processes and organ damage. Proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and other soluble mediators fuel these autoimmune circuits, leading to cell-activation and proinflammatory cell invasion to tissues.

A finely balanced interplay of pro- and anti-inflammatory processes may either lead to chronic inflammation and potential organ damage or the resolution of the inflammatory cascade. Understanding the immunomodulatory and pathogenic mechanisms that contribute to these conditions can lead to the development of novel diagnostic strategies and future effective therapies in autoimmune diseases.

We invite investigators to contribute original research articles as well as review papers that will stimulate to understand the role of various inflammatory mediators in autoimmune processes, as well as systemic autoimmune diseases. The topic of these articles should encompass basic, molecular mechanisms of inflammation in connection with autoimmune processes, cellular and molecular inflammatory functions, which can aid as biomarkers for diagnostics, as well as targeting of the inflammatory machinery as potential therapeutic interventions. The call especially invites articles describing (1) the pathogenic role of T and B cells, the monocyte/macrophage system, granulocytes, dendritic cells, cytokine, chemokine networks, leukotrienes, prostaglandins, and growth factors in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity; (2) advances in molecular genetics and molecular diagnostics; (3) new insights into proinflammatory processes and defective regulatory functions in the development of systemic autoimmune diseases using animal models; (4) potential treatment modalities in managing autoimmune diseases with a special emphasis on modulating inflammatory processes, for example, anticytokine therapy, small molecules, siRNA, or stem cells.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Recent developments in autoimmunity, with special emphasis on inflammatory circuits
• Advances in genetics in inflammation and autoimmunity
• Granulocytes, granulocyte subsets in systemic autoimmune diseases
• Proinflammatory and regulatory T- B- NK-cells DCs in autoimmunity
• Cytokines controlling immune functions and autoimmunity
• Studying inflammatory mechanisms in systemic autoimmune diseases, using animal model systems
• Immunocompetent cell- and cytokine/chemokine-targeting in the treatment of systemic autoimmune diseases